“Wow, Jimmy Kimmel, who is in no way funny, as attested to by his terrible Television Ratings, made a statement on his Show that is really shocking […] Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
He went further, linking the controversy to a recent security incident: “A day later a lunatic tried entering the ballroom of the White House Correspondents Dinner, loaded up with a shotgun, handgun, and many knives,” calling the situation “far beyond the pale.”
Kimmel Responds
Kimmel addressed the backlash during his show, rejecting claims that his joke encouraged violence.
“It was not by any stretch a call to assassination,” he said, adding that he has long spoken out against gun violence.
“I am sorry that you and the president and everyone in that room on Saturday went through that. I really am,” he continued. “Just because no one got killed doesn’t meant it wasn’t traumatic and scary. And we should come together and be best. We really should [sic].”