- George Clooney has publicly defended Jimmy Kimmel following backlash over a resurfaced joke made by the late-night host about Melania Trump.
- Kimmel's joke, where he described Melania Trump as an “expectant widow,” aired two days before shots were fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, an incident being investigated as a potential third assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
- Donald and Melania Trump subsequently called for ABC to dismiss Kimmel, whose show was previously suspended last year under pressure from the Trump administration.
- Clooney argued that 'jokes are jokes,' drawing a parallel to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's pre-dinner remark about 'shots fired,' and criticised the increasingly dangerous political rhetoric.
- Kimmel himself defended his joke on his show, stating it was intended to mock the age difference between the Trumps and not to promote political violence, while an FCC complaint has been filed against him.
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