Melania Trump breaks silence over Jimmy Kimmel ‘widow’ joke days before White House dinner shooting

Jimmy Kimmel has come under fire for a joke he made ahead of the White House correspondents' dinner shooting.

On Saturday (25 April), the prestigious event, which was attended by US President Donald Trump, was thrown into chaos when shots were fired by a gunman armed with 'multiple weapons'.

The alleged shooter, who has since been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, ran through a security checkpoint in the lobby of the Washington Hilton Hotel, armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives, police confirmed.

A shotgun was fired at a Secret Service agent before the attacker was tackled to the ground and arrested. Thankfully, the agent in question was wearing a bulletproof vest and is expected to make a full recovery.

In the main room where the event was taking place, Trump and other senior administration officials were swiftly ushered out by security personnel.

US President Trump and First Lady Melania were at the Washington Hilton when the shooting unfolded (MANDEL NGAN/Getty Images)

The suspect is understood to have been a guest in the hotel where the dinner was being held, and faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon.

And now, as mentioned, a joke of Kimmel's that was made a few days prior to the attack has sparked backlash on social media.

During Thursday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the 58-year-old chat show host delivered a parody segment of the dinner in advance, including his own alternative comedy monologue, pretending to be the event’s MC.

And one gag has certainly not aged well.

Kimmel said that First Lady Melania Trump had the glow of an 'expectant widow'.

This joke came days before Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed that investigators believe the suspected shooter was targeting members of the Trump administration.

Melania herself has since spoken out on the remarks and said in a statement on X: "Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.

"People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate. A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him.

"Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community."

It's safe to say the joke has not aged well (Randy Holmes/Getty Images)

Also reacting to the remark following the shooting, one X user penned: "Moments before the the gunman opened fire, trying to assassinate President Trump, Jimmy Kimmell made a joke about Melania Trump ending up a widow just hours before her birthday."

While a second and third wrote: "@jimmykimmel as usual wildly inappropriate…This is not okay" and "'It's not even inherently funny. You have to be deranged to laugh at that".

A fourth raged: "Jimmy Kimmel's 'mock' White House Correspondents' Dinner joked that Melania would become a widow two days before the White House Correspondents' Dinner assassination attempt. These people are continually giving permission to make violence mainstream."

And political commentator Link Lauren wrote: "Many in the mainstream media have stoked division and hatred for years. Jimmy Kimmel just made a disgusting "joke" about Melania Trump becoming a widow.

"After the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and what transpired with President Trump, now they suddenly want to act shocked."

Tyla has contacted a rep for Kimmel and ABC for comment.