Content Advisory: This article discusses political rhetoric, gun violence, and legal references to rape and sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
Donald Trump is not done with Jimmy Kimmel. The president escalated his feud with the late-night host during an appearance on Newsmax’s ‘The Record With Greta Van Susteren,’ calling Kimmel a “lowlife” and warning that ABC could be putting itself in “great jeopardy.”
The latest clash follows Kimmel’s joke about Melania Trump, where he said the first lady had “a glow like an expectant widow.” Kimmel later described the line as a “very light roast joke” about the Trumps’ age difference and denied that it was any kind of call to violence.
Trump is not buying it. “I haven’t heard him apologize, but he’s a lowlife whether he apologized or not,” Trump said. “He’s a lowlife. He always has been. He shouldn’t be on television.”
Trump Says Kimmel Should Not Be On Air
Trump accused Kimmel of using ABC’s platform to attack Republicans, conservatives, and Trump himself. “I don’t know how a guy could be on television, where the network has free airwaves from the United States government and spend 100% of his time knocking Republicans and conservatives and Trump,” he said. “It’s not supposed to work that way.”
He also repeated his usual attack on Kimmel’s popularity. Trump called him “not a funny guy” and claimed he has “no ratings,” adding, “I don’t understand how he can be on air.” Then came the warning to ABC. “I think ABC is putting themselves in great jeopardy, actually,” Trump said.
Trump Brought Up His ABC Settlement
Trump pointed to his previous legal fight with ABC News and George Stephanopoulos. “You know, they already paid me $16 million,” Trump said, using a mocking nickname for Stephanopoulos.
The case stemmed from Stephanopoulos incorrectly saying Trump had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump was found liable for sexual abuse, which is a different offense. ABC later agreed to pay a reported $15 million in charitable contributions toward Trump’s presidential library.
Kimmel Said The Joke Was A ‘Light Roast’
Kimmel addressed the backlash during his Monday monologue on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!,’ saying the joke was about Donald and Melania’s age gap. “It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am,” Kimmel said. He added that it was “not by any stretch a call to assassination,” and noted that he has spoken against gun violence for years.
Melania had earlier accused Kimmel of spreading “hateful and violent rhetoric,” while Trump called for ABC to fire him.
Kimmel’s show was previously pulled from the air in September 2025 after comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s death. He returned six days later. Disney, which owns ABC, has defended its record, saying ABC and its stations operate in compliance with FCC rules and serve local communities with news, emergency information, and public-interest programming.
For now, Trump’s message is blunt: he does not want an apology. He wants Kimmel off television.
