President Donald Trump demanded on Thursday, April 30, 2026 [1], that ABC and Disney fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
The demand highlights the ongoing tension between the U.S. executive branch and media figures who use satire to criticize the administration. This latest clash underscores a pattern of public confrontations between the president and the ABC host.
Trump said that Kimmel should be fired “soon” [2]. He cited jokes made by the host regarding First Lady Melania Trump, and other criticisms of the administration, as the primary drivers for his demand. The president said that “people are angry” [3] regarding the content of Kimmel's program.
This is not the first time the president has targeted the host's employment or professional standing. In November 2025, Trump said Kimmel was a “talentless bum” [4].
While some reports indicate the president was specifically reacting to a joke about the First Lady, other reports indicate it is unclear what specifically spurred the latest attack [5]. Despite the conflicting reports on the immediate trigger, the president's call for Kimmel's dismissal remains public.
ABC and Disney have not issued a formal response to the president's demand for the host's termination. The network has previously maintained Kimmel's position despite similar criticisms from the president in the past.
“"Jimmy Kimmel better get fired soon."”
This confrontation reflects a broader conflict over the boundaries of political satire and the influence of the U.S. presidency on private media corporations. By publicly calling for the firing of a network employee, the president is exerting pressure on Disney and ABC to align their content with his preferences, testing the independence of corporate media against political demands.
