Keith Olberman dismisses Melania Trump’s call for action against Jimmy Kimmel

In the aftermath of the White House correspondents' dinner shooting, First Lady Melania Trump demanded action against comedian Jimmy Kimmel for "hateful and violent rhetoric." Referring to Kimmel's Thursday monologue, in which he called the first lady an "expectant widow," she said it was "time for ABC to take a stand" against the late-night host. The First Lady's allegations drew sharp criticism for sounding hypocritical, with political commentator and writer, Keith Olbermann, asking her to "STFU." Olbermann pointed out that it was her "evil, insane husband" who divided the country with "violent rhetoric," and she should take it up with him. 

Days before the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Kimmel broadcast a skit, posing as the MC of the event. "Our first lady, Melania, is here," he said. "So beautiful, Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow," he joked. Days later, a gunman opened fire at Saturday's dinner, but was stopped before he could reach the ballroom where the President was seated.

Following the attack, Trump said, "Kimmel's hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country." She went on to add that Kimmel's monologue wasn't comedy and that "his words are corrosive and deepen the political sickness" in the country. "A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him," her post continued as she accused the network of enabling Kimmel's "atrocious behaviour" before demanding that they take a stand. Donald Trump also weighed in a few hours later in a Truth Social post, demanding that Kimmel should be "immediately fired" by Disney and ABC.

Reacting to her comments, Olbermann pointed out the contradictory nature of the Trumps' outcry, claiming that it was her husband who was spreading the violent rhetoric. "Dear @Flotus STFU," he wrote in his post on X, sharing screenshots of Trump's message. "This country has been divided with violent rhetoric by your evil, insane husband," he added, claiming that this was "Donald Trump's America." He then suggested that the First Lady, if she found the "tone of discourse unsatisfactory," should take it up with the "mindless creature" she has enabled or "just leave". 

The sports/political commentator is one of several prominent media figures who called out Trump in defense of free speech. Author Stephen King also shared a poetic reply to the comments made by Trump, saying "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw s–t," in a post on X. 

Support for Kimmel came from comedians Loni Love and David Axelrod, and journalist Mehdi Hasan as well, who claimed the country is run by "snowflake morons" who don't understand comedy or free speech. On the other hand, Republicans echoed the opinion of the President and the First Lady, slamming Kimmel's monologue. "I am so deeply sick of Jimmy Kimmel and the hate he spreads in the world," Meghan McCain wrote in a post on X.