First lady Melania Trump sharply rebuked late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after he made a controversial remark about her during his show, calling him a “coward” and accusing him of spreading harmful rhetoric.

In a post on X, Trump condemned the comedian’s comments, writing, “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.”

The backlash intensified following a shooting late Motzoei Shabbos at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where a gunman attempted to breach a security checkpoint in an effort to target President Trump and members of his administration. A Secret Service agent sustained minor injuries during the incident.

Kimmel had mocked the event during his Thursday night monologue, delivering a satirical version of a speech in which he said: “Our first lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.”

In her response, the first lady also criticized ABC, the network that airs Kimmel’s program, accusing it of shielding the host from accountability and allowing his conduct to continue unchecked.

“A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him,” she wrote.

She went on to call for action from the network’s leadership, adding, “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?”

{Matzav.com}