the assassins need better training.
Shooter Detained at White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Says Trump — The Wall Street Journal
Witnesses heard three loud bangs and saw a man carrying a rifleapple.news
BREAKING!! TRUMP HAS BEEN SHOT
- Thread starter B00Mer
- Start date
White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect slammed Trump in manifesto: Report
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif., has been identified as the attacker by various outlets
Author of the article:Ling Hui
Published Apr 26, 2026 • Last updated 5 hours ago • 3 minute read
Members of the press work (left) as a person in a car stops to take a picture of a home (across street, out of frame) associated with the suspected White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter in Torrance, Calif., on April 26, 2026.
Members of the press work (left) as a person in a car stops to take a picture of a home (across street, out of frame) associated with the suspected White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter in Torrance, Calif., on April 26, 2026. Photo by Patrick T. Fallon /AFP via Getty Images
A day after a man opened fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., Saturday night, more information is being uncovered about the accused gunman.
A Secret Service officer was wounded after shots were fired when a man allegedly charged a security checkpoint outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, where the event was being held.
U.S. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and various members of his administration were in attendance and were quickly whisked out of the hotel’s ballroom uninjured.
Various news outlets, citing law enforcement officials familiar with the case, have identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif.
Shooter’s ‘manifesto’ obtained by media
As investigators try to figure out a motive behind the attack, the alleged gunman’s purported manifesto has been obtained by the New York Post, which was reportedly sent to his family members before the attack.
In the lengthy document, which was turned over to law enforcement officials, Allen referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin,” and said he was setting out to kill officials in the Trump administration.
He begins by apologizing to his parents, colleagues, students and the “non-targeted people at the hotel who I put in danger.”
He then goes on to explain his motives, while referring to the U.S. president without specificially naming him.
“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” he wrote, per New York Post.
“Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest,” he wrote.
Alleged attacker an educator: Reports
Allen is a California Institute of Technology graduate who recently won a “teacher of the month” award, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Allen’s LinkedIn profile said he earned a bachelor’s degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the university in Pasadena, The Associated Press reported.
In 2025, he earned a master of science degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, NBC News reported.
He does not have a criminal record and is described as a “borderline genius” by a former high school volleyball teammate who spoke with NBC News.
Reports say he’s a part-time teacher, tutor and a video game developer.
Investigation in its preliminary stages
Authorities said Allen was carrying two firearms and several knives when he was tackled to the ground by law enforcement, with shots fired amid the chaos.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that Allen was likely targeting the U.S. president and members of his administration.
“From our preliminary investigation, it does appear the suspect was targeting members of the administration,” Blanche told CNN’s State of the Union Sunday morning.
He also said the suspect was not cooperating with investigators.
On Truth Social, Trump posted a photo Saturday night of the alleged attacker, lying on the floor with his face down and his arms tied behind his back. He also shared a video of the suspect charging through a security checkpoint at the event.
U.S. President shared this image on his Truth Social platform of a man who was arrested during an attack at the White House Correspondents' Dinner Saturday night.
U.S. President shared this image on his Truth Social platform of a man who was arrested during an attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night. Photo by Donald Trump /Truth Social
Reporter describes what happened inside ballroom
Members attending the annual media event were enjoying their meal when chaos erupted, The Associated Press reporter Anna Johnson said Saturday night.
“People were just starting to eat their salads, and perhaps moving on to the next course after that, when all of a sudden, we were being shouted at to get under the tables,” she said.
She said everyone complied with that order, while the president, vice-president and others at the head table were taken out of the room by Secret Service.
Shortly after, armed personnel came into the ballroom and began evacuating people, with priority given to cabinet members, ambassadors and other VIPs, Johnson said.
Vice-President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were among members of the Trump administration at the event.
nbcnews.com
nypost.com
torontosun.com
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif., has been identified as the attacker by various outlets
Author of the article:Ling Hui
Published Apr 26, 2026 • Last updated 5 hours ago • 3 minute read
Members of the press work (left) as a person in a car stops to take a picture of a home (across street, out of frame) associated with the suspected White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter in Torrance, Calif., on April 26, 2026.
Members of the press work (left) as a person in a car stops to take a picture of a home (across street, out of frame) associated with the suspected White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter in Torrance, Calif., on April 26, 2026. Photo by Patrick T. Fallon /AFP via Getty Images
A day after a man opened fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., Saturday night, more information is being uncovered about the accused gunman.
A Secret Service officer was wounded after shots were fired when a man allegedly charged a security checkpoint outside the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, where the event was being held.
U.S. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and various members of his administration were in attendance and were quickly whisked out of the hotel’s ballroom uninjured.
Various news outlets, citing law enforcement officials familiar with the case, have identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif.
Shooter’s ‘manifesto’ obtained by media
As investigators try to figure out a motive behind the attack, the alleged gunman’s purported manifesto has been obtained by the New York Post, which was reportedly sent to his family members before the attack.
In the lengthy document, which was turned over to law enforcement officials, Allen referred to himself as the “Friendly Federal Assassin,” and said he was setting out to kill officials in the Trump administration.
He begins by apologizing to his parents, colleagues, students and the “non-targeted people at the hotel who I put in danger.”
He then goes on to explain his motives, while referring to the U.S. president without specificially naming him.
“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” he wrote, per New York Post.
“Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest,” he wrote.
Alleged attacker an educator: Reports
Allen is a California Institute of Technology graduate who recently won a “teacher of the month” award, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Allen’s LinkedIn profile said he earned a bachelor’s degree in 2017 in mechanical engineering from the university in Pasadena, The Associated Press reported.
In 2025, he earned a master of science degree in computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills, NBC News reported.
He does not have a criminal record and is described as a “borderline genius” by a former high school volleyball teammate who spoke with NBC News.
Reports say he’s a part-time teacher, tutor and a video game developer.
Investigation in its preliminary stages
Authorities said Allen was carrying two firearms and several knives when he was tackled to the ground by law enforcement, with shots fired amid the chaos.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that Allen was likely targeting the U.S. president and members of his administration.
“From our preliminary investigation, it does appear the suspect was targeting members of the administration,” Blanche told CNN’s State of the Union Sunday morning.
He also said the suspect was not cooperating with investigators.
On Truth Social, Trump posted a photo Saturday night of the alleged attacker, lying on the floor with his face down and his arms tied behind his back. He also shared a video of the suspect charging through a security checkpoint at the event.
U.S. President shared this image on his Truth Social platform of a man who was arrested during an attack at the White House Correspondents' Dinner Saturday night.
U.S. President shared this image on his Truth Social platform of a man who was arrested during an attack at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night. Photo by Donald Trump /Truth Social
Reporter describes what happened inside ballroom
Members attending the annual media event were enjoying their meal when chaos erupted, The Associated Press reporter Anna Johnson said Saturday night.
“People were just starting to eat their salads, and perhaps moving on to the next course after that, when all of a sudden, we were being shouted at to get under the tables,” she said.
She said everyone complied with that order, while the president, vice-president and others at the head table were taken out of the room by Secret Service.
Shortly after, armed personnel came into the ballroom and began evacuating people, with priority given to cabinet members, ambassadors and other VIPs, Johnson said.
Vice-President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were among members of the Trump administration at the event.
Suspect in White House Correspondents’ dinner shooting wrote of targeting Trump administration
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, is accused of rushing a security checkpoint armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives, and exchanging gunfire with law enforcement.
nbcnews.com
Exclusive | Read White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman Cole Allen’s full anti-Trump manifesto
In the 1,052-word missive obtained by The Post Sunday morning outlined Allen’s “rules of engagement” for the shooting and stated he believed it was his righteous duty to target ad…
nypost.com
White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect slammed Trump in manifesto: Report
Various news outlets, citing law enforcement officials familiar with the case, have identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, 31. More.
Trump says shooting proves need for his White House ballroom
$400-million ballroom has become a passion project for U.S. president
Author of the article:AFP
AFP
Published Apr 26, 2026 • 1 minute read
President Donald Trump has pushed for the building of a massive ballroom next to the White House.
President Donald Trump has pushed for the building of a massive ballroom next to the White House. Photo by Mandel NGAN /AFP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Sunday used a shooting at a gala he attended in Washington to push his plans to construct a huge ballroom next to the White House that has faced legal challenges.
Shots were fired Saturday evening as Secret Service agents subdued the gunman who tried to storm the White House Correspondents Dinner, attended by Trump, top government officials and hundreds of journalists.
The annual event — a private, not government, function — was at the Washington Hilton, a few blocks north of the White House, where it has been held for decades.
“What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The $400-million ballroom has become a passion project for Trump during his second term and he has addressed it often in public appearances, press conferences and meetings.
Praises security features of proposed ballroom
In his Sunday post, Trump lauded the security features of the proposed ballroom, which has faced widespread public criticism for its outsized scale and the lack of consultation.
“This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House,” Trump wrote. “It cannot be built fast enough! While beautiful, it has every highest level security feature there is.”
Trump also mentioned the ballroom during a hastily called press conference Saturday evening after the shooting, and many of his political and online allies voiced support for its construction.
The future of the project, which has already seen the historic East Wing of the White House abruptly torn down, is being fought over in the courts.
The street outside the Washington Hilton was also the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on former president Ronald Reagan.
torontosun.com
$400-million ballroom has become a passion project for U.S. president
Author of the article:AFP
AFP
Published Apr 26, 2026 • 1 minute read
President Donald Trump has pushed for the building of a massive ballroom next to the White House.
President Donald Trump has pushed for the building of a massive ballroom next to the White House. Photo by Mandel NGAN /AFP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Sunday used a shooting at a gala he attended in Washington to push his plans to construct a huge ballroom next to the White House that has faced legal challenges.
Shots were fired Saturday evening as Secret Service agents subdued the gunman who tried to storm the White House Correspondents Dinner, attended by Trump, top government officials and hundreds of journalists.
The annual event — a private, not government, function — was at the Washington Hilton, a few blocks north of the White House, where it has been held for decades.
“What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The $400-million ballroom has become a passion project for Trump during his second term and he has addressed it often in public appearances, press conferences and meetings.
Praises security features of proposed ballroom
In his Sunday post, Trump lauded the security features of the proposed ballroom, which has faced widespread public criticism for its outsized scale and the lack of consultation.
“This event would never have happened with the Militarily Top Secret Ballroom currently under construction at the White House,” Trump wrote. “It cannot be built fast enough! While beautiful, it has every highest level security feature there is.”
Trump also mentioned the ballroom during a hastily called press conference Saturday evening after the shooting, and many of his political and online allies voiced support for its construction.
The future of the project, which has already seen the historic East Wing of the White House abruptly torn down, is being fought over in the courts.
The street outside the Washington Hilton was also the site of the 1981 assassination attempt on former president Ronald Reagan.
Trump says shooting proves need for his White House ballroom
President Donald Trump on Sunday used a shooting at a gala he attended to push his plans to construct a huge ballroom. Read more.
Well, how ‘bout that. Probably a coincidence.
Trump: WHCD Shooting is Why We Need a Ballroom at White House
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Does he know Biden is no longer Prez?
Not much of a security checkpoint if a gunman can charge past it. Airports have better security.
Seems to be what the left wing utubers my wife follow claim.
Bus Stations. Anyway:
James Comey indicted for alleged Trump threat with ‘86 47’ Instagram post
Former FBI director faces one charge of threatening the life of the president and one charge of making an interstate threat
Author of the article:Ling Hui
Published Apr 28, 2026 • 2 minute read
James Comey speaks onstage during Former FBI Director James Comey In Conversation With MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace at 92NY on May 30, 2023 in New York City.
James Comey speaks onstage during Former FBI Director James Comey In Conversation With MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace at 92NY on May 30, 2023 in New York City. Photo by Dia Dipasupil /Getty Images
Former FBI director James Comey was indicted Tuesday over allegations that a photo he posted last year on social media constituted a threat against U.S. President Donald Trump.
The allegations against Comey stem from a photo he posted to Instagram on May, 15, 2025 of seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47” on a beach.
The indictment said that by sharing the image, “a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States.”
The number 86 is slang meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to,” according to Merriam-Webster.
With Trump being the 47th U.S. president, Republicans and administration officials were quick to slam Comey’s post, accusing him of calling for violence against the president.
“Threatening the life of the President of the United States is a grave violation of our nation’s laws,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday.
“The grand jury returned an indictment alleging James Comey did just that, at a time when this country has witnessed violent incitement followed by deadly actions against President Trump and other elected officials. The temperature needs to be turned down, and anyone who dials it up and threatens the life of the President will be held accountable,” he added.
The former FBI director had been interviewed by Secret Service last year for the since-deleted post, which he captioned: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”
The indictment was brought in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where Comey reportedly owns a beach house.
He faces a charge of threatening the life of the president and a charge making an interstate threat.
He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted.
Former FBI director responds to charges
Comey responded to the indictment with a video posted on his Substack account.
“I’m still innocent, I’m still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary. So, let’s go,” he said.
Shortly after deleting the photo last year, Comey posted a statement on his Instagram account, saying he “didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occured to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
Comey had also commented on the photo’s controversy while promoting his book in New York last May, stating his wife spotted the seashells, and they both talked about the number 86.
While at a Barnes & Noble in New York City, he said remembered it was slang for saying something was boring and should be “ditched,” the Associated Press reported.
Last September, Comey was indicted on charges of making false statements and obstruction of justice, but the case was thrown out by a judge who concluded that the prosecutor who brought the indictment, then-interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, was illegally appointed.
jamescomey.substack.com
merriam-webster.com
torontosun.com
Former FBI director faces one charge of threatening the life of the president and one charge of making an interstate threat
Author of the article:Ling Hui
Published Apr 28, 2026 • 2 minute read
James Comey speaks onstage during Former FBI Director James Comey In Conversation With MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace at 92NY on May 30, 2023 in New York City.
James Comey speaks onstage during Former FBI Director James Comey In Conversation With MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace at 92NY on May 30, 2023 in New York City. Photo by Dia Dipasupil /Getty Images
Former FBI director James Comey was indicted Tuesday over allegations that a photo he posted last year on social media constituted a threat against U.S. President Donald Trump.
The allegations against Comey stem from a photo he posted to Instagram on May, 15, 2025 of seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47” on a beach.
The indictment said that by sharing the image, “a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States.”
The number 86 is slang meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to,” according to Merriam-Webster.
With Trump being the 47th U.S. president, Republicans and administration officials were quick to slam Comey’s post, accusing him of calling for violence against the president.
“Threatening the life of the President of the United States is a grave violation of our nation’s laws,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday.
“The grand jury returned an indictment alleging James Comey did just that, at a time when this country has witnessed violent incitement followed by deadly actions against President Trump and other elected officials. The temperature needs to be turned down, and anyone who dials it up and threatens the life of the President will be held accountable,” he added.
The former FBI director had been interviewed by Secret Service last year for the since-deleted post, which he captioned: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”
The indictment was brought in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where Comey reportedly owns a beach house.
He faces a charge of threatening the life of the president and a charge making an interstate threat.
He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted.
Former FBI director responds to charges
Comey responded to the indictment with a video posted on his Substack account.
“I’m still innocent, I’m still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary. So, let’s go,” he said.
Shortly after deleting the photo last year, Comey posted a statement on his Instagram account, saying he “didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occured to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
Comey had also commented on the photo’s controversy while promoting his book in New York last May, stating his wife spotted the seashells, and they both talked about the number 86.
While at a Barnes & Noble in New York City, he said remembered it was slang for saying something was boring and should be “ditched,” the Associated Press reported.
Last September, Comey was indicted on charges of making false statements and obstruction of justice, but the case was thrown out by a judge who concluded that the prosecutor who brought the indictment, then-interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, was illegally appointed.
Seashells
Former government person, author, teacher, father, grandfather. Tall and really quite funny.
jamescomey.substack.com
Definition of EIGHTY-SIX
to refuse to serve (a customer); to eject or ban (a customer); broadly : to eject, dismiss, or remove (someone); to remove (an item) from a menu : to no longer offer (an item) to customers… See the full definition
merriam-webster.com
James Comey indicted for alleged Trump threat with ‘86 47’ Instagram post
James Comey was indicted over allegations that an Instagram photo constituted a threat against U.S. President Donald Trump. Read more.
FCC orders early review of Disney licence renewal after Kimmel joke controversy
The licences were originally slated to be renewed between 2028 and 2031
Author of the article:Eddie Chau
Published Apr 29, 2026 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 3 minute read
042926-Trump-Jimmy_Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel appears at the Walt Disney Television upfront in New York on May 14, 2019, left, and President Donald Trump appears on the South Lawn of the White House on Aug. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo) AP
The Donald Trump-backed Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered the Walt Disney Company to submit early licence renewals of all its owned and operated television stations in the latest attempt to get late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel off the air.
The licences were originally slated to be renewed between 2028 and 2031, Entertainment Weekly reported.
In a filing by the FCC’s Media Bureau on Tuesday, the company stated that “Disney’s ABC is hereby directed to file licence renewals for all of their licensed TV stations within 30 days – in other words, by May 28, 2026.”
The FCC filing is the latest move in the agency’s ongoing investigation into Disney’s DEI practices during the FCC’s ban of “unlawful discrimination.” It also comes in the wake of Trump’s fury after Kimmel joked about First Lady Melania Trump.
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump delivers a statement at the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington, D.C., Thursday, April 9, 2026.
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump delivers a statement at the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington, D.C., Thursday, April 9, 2026. Photo by Alex Wong /Getty Images
How did Disney respond?
In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, a Disney spokesperson said the company has received the FCC’s order, noting it has a long record of “operating in full compliance with FCC rules and serving their local communities with trusted news, emergency information, and public‑interest programming.”
“We are confident that record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels,” the spokesperson continued. “Our focus remains, as always, on serving viewers in the local communities where our stations operate.”
On the April 23 episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Kimmel appeared in a sketch as the host of an alternative White House Correspondents’ dinner, poking fun of a Trump administration edict of not hiring a comedian to roast the president at the event.
Among the jokes, Kimmel said Melania Trump had “a glow like an expectant widow,” a joke he claimed was about the age difference between the first lady, 56, and the president, 79.
Two days later, during the actual dinner at the Washington Hilton, a gunman rushed past a security checkpoint and fired several gunshots. Cole Allen was subsequently charged with attempting to assassinate the president, as well as two federal gun charges.
After the assassination attempt, Melania took to social media to criticize Kimmel, stating he “shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate” and that the comedian “hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him.”
On Monday, Trump blasted Kimmel’s joke on Truth Social, making a connection between Kimmel and the assassination attempt.
“Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC,” Trump wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Trump jokes about age difference
On the same day the FCC called for the early licence renewals, Kimmel seemingly addressed the controversy with Trump by talking about the visit to the White House by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
During the visit with the British royals, Trump jokingly compared his parents’ 63-year marriage to his union with Melania.
“That’s a record we won’t be able to match, darling,” Trump told Melania, per USA Today. “I’m sorry, just not going to work out that way. We’ll do well, but we’re not going to do that well – 63 years.”
Kimmel highlighted the hypocrisy of Trump’s joke with his response.
“Only Donald Trump would demand that I be fired for making a joke about his old age and then a day later, go out and make a joke about his old age,” Kimmel said.
It’s the second time the FCC has interjected itself in the Trump-Kimmel feud.
In September, Kimmel’s show was temporarily shelved following pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr after the comedian joked about the “MAGA gang” while responding to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
After public blowback, Kimmel returned to the airwaves within a week.
ew.com
torontosun.com
The licences were originally slated to be renewed between 2028 and 2031
Author of the article:Eddie Chau
Published Apr 29, 2026 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 3 minute read
042926-Trump-Jimmy_Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel appears at the Walt Disney Television upfront in New York on May 14, 2019, left, and President Donald Trump appears on the South Lawn of the White House on Aug. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo) AP
The Donald Trump-backed Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered the Walt Disney Company to submit early licence renewals of all its owned and operated television stations in the latest attempt to get late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel off the air.
The licences were originally slated to be renewed between 2028 and 2031, Entertainment Weekly reported.
In a filing by the FCC’s Media Bureau on Tuesday, the company stated that “Disney’s ABC is hereby directed to file licence renewals for all of their licensed TV stations within 30 days – in other words, by May 28, 2026.”
The FCC filing is the latest move in the agency’s ongoing investigation into Disney’s DEI practices during the FCC’s ban of “unlawful discrimination.” It also comes in the wake of Trump’s fury after Kimmel joked about First Lady Melania Trump.
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump delivers a statement at the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington, D.C., Thursday, April 9, 2026.
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump delivers a statement at the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington, D.C., Thursday, April 9, 2026. Photo by Alex Wong /Getty Images
How did Disney respond?
In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, a Disney spokesperson said the company has received the FCC’s order, noting it has a long record of “operating in full compliance with FCC rules and serving their local communities with trusted news, emergency information, and public‑interest programming.”
“We are confident that record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels,” the spokesperson continued. “Our focus remains, as always, on serving viewers in the local communities where our stations operate.”
On the April 23 episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Kimmel appeared in a sketch as the host of an alternative White House Correspondents’ dinner, poking fun of a Trump administration edict of not hiring a comedian to roast the president at the event.
Among the jokes, Kimmel said Melania Trump had “a glow like an expectant widow,” a joke he claimed was about the age difference between the first lady, 56, and the president, 79.
Two days later, during the actual dinner at the Washington Hilton, a gunman rushed past a security checkpoint and fired several gunshots. Cole Allen was subsequently charged with attempting to assassinate the president, as well as two federal gun charges.
After the assassination attempt, Melania took to social media to criticize Kimmel, stating he “shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate” and that the comedian “hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him.”
On Monday, Trump blasted Kimmel’s joke on Truth Social, making a connection between Kimmel and the assassination attempt.
“Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC,” Trump wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Trump jokes about age difference
On the same day the FCC called for the early licence renewals, Kimmel seemingly addressed the controversy with Trump by talking about the visit to the White House by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
During the visit with the British royals, Trump jokingly compared his parents’ 63-year marriage to his union with Melania.
“That’s a record we won’t be able to match, darling,” Trump told Melania, per USA Today. “I’m sorry, just not going to work out that way. We’ll do well, but we’re not going to do that well – 63 years.”
Kimmel highlighted the hypocrisy of Trump’s joke with his response.
“Only Donald Trump would demand that I be fired for making a joke about his old age and then a day later, go out and make a joke about his old age,” Kimmel said.
It’s the second time the FCC has interjected itself in the Trump-Kimmel feud.
In September, Kimmel’s show was temporarily shelved following pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr after the comedian joked about the “MAGA gang” while responding to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
After public blowback, Kimmel returned to the airwaves within a week.
Trump jokes about his marriage, mom's 'crush' on King Charles at royal event
Trump joked about his marriage not lasting as long as his parents' 63-year union during the royal visit to the White House.
usatoday.com
FCC orders early review of Disney's licenses after Trump voices outrage over Jimmy Kimmel's Melania joke
The FCC has ordered an early review of Disney's licenses days after President Trump voiced outrage over Jimmy Kimmel's Melania joke.
FCC orders early review of Disney licence renewal after Kimmel joke controversy
The FCC has ordered the Walt Disney Company to submit early licence renewals of all its owned and operated television stations. Read more.