Conservative commentator Candace Owens is surprisingly coming to Jimmy Kimmel‘s defense as they both face public criticism from President Donald Trump. 

While Owens and Kimmel have a long history of mutual dislike, she is pushing back against the administration’s claim that a recent joke by the comedian was responsible for the violence at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. 

Meanwhile, George Clooney similarly expressed support for Kimmel amid the backlash, noting that the TV host’s statements were just “jokes.”

Candace Owens Labels The Trumps’ Attack On Jimmy Kimmel As Hypocritical

Owens recently used a YouTube clip to address the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and Kimmel. The dispute began after Kimmel made a joke describing Melania Trump as having a “glow like an expectant widow.” 

Owens, 37, expressed her frustration at having to defend the 58-year-old comedian for a second time, arguing that the administration is showing a double standard.

She noted the irony of people “in glass houses” complaining about harsh language, specifically pointing out how the President often makes jokes that his supporters tell others not to take seriously.

The political commentator mocked the idea that a “clear and obvious joke” could be blamed for a major security incident. She argued that the administration is pretending a comedic roast is an “existential” threat, which she finds dishonest. 

Despite her personal distaste for Kimmel, Owens insisted that the attempt to link his comedy to a shooting is an unfair escalation.

“A clear and obvious joke is existential, and now the source of shootings. That’s that. This happened because Jimmy Kimmel made a joke,” she argued, per US Weekly.

She further noted that the President’s own recent attacks on conservative voices like herself and Tucker Carlson show a pattern of aggressive rhetoric.

George Clooney Also Publicly Defended Jimmy Kimmel’s Statements

While Owens voiced her support from the political right, Hollywood heavyweight George Clooney is also taking a stand in the comedian’s corner.

During the 51st Chaplin Award Gala on Monday night, Clooney used his platform as the evening’s honoree to address the growing controversy surrounding the late-night host.

He argued that the public should not take Kimmel’s “expectant widow” comment to heart, insisting that “jokes are jokes” and should not be blamed for the violence at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

According to The Blast, the filmmaker cautioned that the administration’s aggressive response to comedy is what truly creates a dangerous environment for free expression. 

Clooney pointed out a perceived hypocrisy in the backlash by highlighting comments made by Trump’s own spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt. He noted that Leavitt had joked about “shots fired” on the red carpet before the actual shooting occurred, yet clearly did not mean for violence to take place. 

Jimmy Kimmel Clarifies The Motivation Behind His Viral Joke About Melania Trump

Amid the defense, the TV host has offered a clarification on the intention behind his statements. 

During his Monday night monologue, Kimmel explained that his words were never intended as a call to violence but rather a simple observation about the age gap between the 79-year-old President and the 56-year-old First Lady.

The late-night host insisted that his comment was “obviously” a joke about the couple’s age difference and nothing more.

He described the segment as a “very light roast,” per The Blast, and then took a moment to offer a sincere apology for the trauma the First Family experienced during the alleged assassination attempt.

ABC Executives Are Reportedly Standing By Jimmy Kimmel Amid The Backlash

Despite the intense backlash that followed Kimmel’s viral joke, his position at ABC appears to be more secure than ever.

While the president and first lady have remained firm in their demands for his termination, network executives have reportedly decided to ignore the pressure from the White House. 

According to insiders, ABC has no intention of firing, suspending, or canceling Kimmel’s long-running show. The network is reportedly treating the uproar over the “expectant widow” comment as old news and is committed to maintaining the status quo, as reported by The Blast.

Sources claimed that production has returned to its normal schedule, with the network choosing to “look the other way” rather than publicly address the First Family’s grievances.

Melania Trump Slammed Kimmel As A ‘Coward’

The network’s decision to maintain the status quo comes despite a massive public campaign from the First Lady to see the comedian removed from his position. Following the security crisis in Washington, Melania took to Instagram to release a scathing statement that quickly went viral. 

She condemned the late-night host’s “expectant widow” remark as corrosive and hateful, arguing that such language serves only to deepen political divisions rather than provide genuine entertainment.

The Blast reported that the First Lady did not mince words in her critique, labeling the comedian a “coward” and accusing ABC of shielding him from the consequences of his actions.