Megyn Kelly Criticizes Trump's Calls to Fire Jimmy Kimmel as 'Very Inappropriate'

Megyn Kelly has become an unlikely defender of Jimmy Kimmel, despite her own reservations about the late-night host's recent remarks.

The conservative podcast host is pushing back against President Donald Trump's demands that ABC terminate Kimmel following controversial comments the comedian made on his talk show. Kimmel drew criticism from right-wing figures after joking that Melania Trump is an "expectant widow"—a quip that arrived just a day before a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., where the president and most cabinet members were present.

Kimmel has clarified that his remark was meant as commentary on the age difference between the president and First Lady, not an incitement to violence.

While Kelly has made clear she disagrees with Kimmel's comments, she voiced strong objections to Trump's actions on her program. "If we're gonna go by ABC/Disney's standards, then it's not good news for Jimmy. You know, the standard has to be applied even when the person offended is a Republican. But of course, ABC doesn't really operate that way," Kelly stated.

She further emphasized her position on the broader principle at stake: "He just retweeted again today that he wants Kimmel fired. It's very inappropriate. The president of the United States should not be calling for any private company to fire any employee, especially over free speech."

Kelly's defense of Kimmel comes after she had previously criticized him on her own show this week, making her current stance a notable shift in focus toward the free speech implications of Trump's campaign against the talk show host.