A late-night group chat has revealed Jimmy Kimmel’s understated response after First Lady Melania Trump publicly called for his firing: just two words and a photo.
John Oliver spilled the details during a rare gathering of late-night hosts on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on May 11, 2026. Kimmel appeared alongside Oliver, Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon for what turned into a candid discussion about their shared experience of presidential scrutiny.
The British comedian recounted Kimmel’s text message the morning Melania Trump attacked him: “Just a text from Jimmy saying, ‘Oh boy,’ and then a picture of Melania mad at him. What a way to start the day.”
Fallon lightened the mood by confessing his reply wasn’t particularly sympathetic. “And then I sent a text to you guys. I sent, ‘Don’t be mad at me but I liked it. I think she’s got a point,'” he joked, drawing laughter from the studio audience.
Origins of the Controversy
The firestorm erupted after Kimmel’s April 23 alternative White House Correspondents’ Dinner segment on ABC. He joked that Melania Trump had “a glow like an expectant widow” — a crack he later explained was about the age gap between the first lady and her husband.
Two days later, on April 25, a gunman opened fire at the actual White House Correspondents’ Dinner venue, allegedly targeting the president and members of his administration. The attack instantly transformed Kimmel’s quip into a political controversy.
Melania Trump demanded network action on April 27, writing that “it is time for ABC to take a stand” and accusing Kimmel of promoting “hateful and violent rhetoric.” President Trump escalated on Truth Social, demanding ABC fire “seriously unfunny Jimmy Kimmel” and warning that “people are angry. It better be soon!!!”
Conservative supporters amplified the attacks across social media, with Turning Point USA-aligned influencers calling for boycotts of both ABC and parent company Disney.
Kimmel’s Defense
Refusing to cave under pressure, Kimmel defended his comedy. He clarified that the line was “obviously a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they’re together,” and stressed that “it was not by any stretch a call to assassination.”
He also challenged the first lady’s concerns about toxic rhetoric, suggesting that if she truly cared, “a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it.”
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered Disney to file early license renewals for all eight of its ABC-owned stations by May 28, 2026, years ahead of their scheduled renewal dates. The April 28 order came just one day after Trump’s firing demand. The FCC cited an investigation into Disney’s DEI practices, though legal experts and Democrats accused the commission of political motivation. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the panel’s lone Democrat, called the move “unprecedented, unlawful, and going nowhere.” Disney’s ABC has since pushed back forcefully, accusing the FCC of unconstitutional overreach that violates First Amendment protections. Disney’s Houston ABC station filed a petition calling the commission’s actions “unprecedented” and “beyond the Commission’s authority.”
The Legal Accountability Center later filed Bar complaints against FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, citing the license renewal demand as politically motivated retaliation tied directly to Kimmel’s remarks about the Trumps. The episode marked the latest chapter in Kimmel’s ongoing tensions with the White House. ABC has so far maintained its support for the comedian despite the backlash. In response to the pressure campaign, Disney extended Kimmel’s contract through May 2027, marking a clear statement of backing for the host.
A Rare Behind-the-Scenes Moment
During the Colbert appearance, the host asked whether any of them expected “doing a job that the president of the United States would have strong feelings about.” Kimmel responded immediately.
“You know what’s even weirder? Doing a job that his wife has strong feelings about. That’s where it crosses over,” he quipped, prompting Late Night host Seth Meyers to chime in that “most of us have avoided that part.”
The ‘Saddest Part’ of Going Viral
In a more reflective moment on Colbert’s couch, Kimmel admitted that the attention from the White House feels strangely isolating in his day-to-day life. The only people who immediately understand what he’s going through, he said, are the four comedians sitting next to him.
The candid moment capped what may go down as one of the more memorable late-night summits in recent years. For now, “Oh boy” may be the most efficient summary of late-night television in 2026.