Kimmel's Controversial Joke
Jimmy Kimmel's Ivanka Trump joke sparks backlash and cancellation calls.
During his Monday night monologue, Jimmy Kimmel made an incest joke about President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka, drawing immediate backlash and calls to cancel his show. The joke came the night after Trump's 80th birthday celebration, which featured UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn, according to KOMO News.
Kimmel's joke was prompted by a broadcast error during the UFC event, where a commentator reportedly called Ivanka Trump the President's "wife" instead of his daughter. Kimmel used the gaffe as a setup, suggesting that sleeping with Ivanka was the President's "birthday wish," according to News3LV.
#CancelKimmel Trends as Backlash Erupts Online
Clips of the joke went viral on the morning of June 16. The hashtag #CancelKimmel reached the number-one spot on X, formerly Twitter, within six hours of the broadcast. Conservative media figures and pundits called on ABC to pull the episode and fire Kimmel, according to KMPH.
Newsmax panelists called the joke "abhorrent" and "sickening," questioning whether it was "even supposed to be comedy." Benny Johnson and other conservative commentators led the charge, citing what they called a pattern of "vile" and "distasteful" jokes from Kimmel in 2026, according to WGXA.
Trump's $60 Million Birthday UFC Spectacle Set the Stage
The joke was rooted in the UFC Freedom 250 event held June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House. The event, timed to Trump's 80th birthday and the U.S. 250th anniversary, cost an estimated $60 million, according to National Park Service filings. About 85,000 tickets were distributed for the watch party on the Ellipse, according to Fox San Antonio.
Justin Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria in the main event. A $250,000 athlete bonus pool was funded by World Liberty Financial, a company co-owned by the Trump family. Critics called the event "bread and circuses" designed to project strength on the President's milestone birthday, according to ABC6 On Your Side.
Kimmel's Third Trump Controversy in Three Months
This is not the first time Kimmel has sparked outrage in 2026. In April, he called Melania Trump "an expectant widow" days before an alleged assassination attempt on the President. In May, he joked that Rudy Giuliani "rose from the grave" — and Giuliani was then hospitalized in critical condition with pneumonia, according to WGME.
Kimmel mocked the Giuliani backlash by performing under a "gauze of comedy" sheet on air, joking about having "prophetic powers." Supporters say the jokes are political satire and protected speech. Critics argue the pattern of timing is too consistent to ignore, according to Idaho News.
ABC and Disney Face Advertiser and Platform Pressure
As of midday June 16, the clip remained available online but had been age-restricted on some platforms. There are active calls to remove the episode from Hulu and Disney+. ABC and Disney had not issued an official statement, according to Bakersfield Now.
Analysts say Kimmel remains a ratings draw, but a coordinated advertiser boycott from his critics is a real threat in today's political climate. The White House is expected to use the controversy to shift focus away from questions about the $60 million cost of the UFC event, according to WACH.
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