George Clooney Defends Jimmy Kimmel After President Trump Calls for His Firing: ‘Jokes Are Jokes'
George Clooney is coming to Jimmy Kimmel's defense after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump called for his firing from ABC.
The couple urged the network to axe the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host after he jokingly referred to Melania as an "expectant widow" two days before the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
The actor defended Kimmel by comparing his comments to those made by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Leavitt toldFox News on the red carpet before the White House Correspondents Dinner that "there will be some shots fired tonight in the room," presumably referring to the jokes Trump had prepared for the event.
"Jimmy's a comedian, and I would argue that Karoline Leavitt didn't mean shots should be fired," Clooney said on Monday, Apr. 27 to Variety. "She was making a joke. Fair enough. You look at that side and go, 'Well, jokes are jokes.' But the rhetoric is a little dangerous. And we've seen it a lot lately."
"When one side is calling anyone they disagree with traitors to the country, which is a charge that's punishable by death, just because they don't agree with someone, I think the rhetoric is a little too heated," Clooney added.
RELATED: President Trump Calls for ABC to Fire Jimmy Kimmel, Echoing Wife Melania's Statement
During an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, Apr. 23-two days before the actual event-the comedian presented an "alternative" White House Correspondents' Dinner monologue.
The segment was set up as if Kimmel was in the Washington Hilton ballroom and the president, first lady, and other administration officials were there.
Kimmel's latest controversy comes just months after his show was briefly pulled off air due to his comments about slain political influencer Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel, Disney, and ABC have not publicly addressed the Trumps' statements.
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This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 10:20 PM.