Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has come under fire for a joke about First Lady Melania Trump, prompting US President Donald Trump to ask ABC to terminate him. Amid the backlash, actor George Clooney has stepped in to defend the comedian.
Clooney compared the backlash to a remark by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, which was taken out of context. He argued that hyperbolic rhetoric can be toned down and that the press should question those in power.
Clooney, a Democrat, expressed his support for the press and its role in holding those in power accountable. He also defended Kimmel, saying that comedians should be able to make jokes without fear of retribution.
The controversy began when Kimmel made a joke about Melania Trump being an "expectant widow" during his show on Thursday night. The remark was made just days before a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which left a Secret Service agent with minor injuries.
