Donald Trump's disproportionate outrage over a Jimmy Kimmel joke about Melania's 'expectant widow' comment highlights his unique obsession with traditional television, leading to accusations of incitement and an ironic focus on late-night comedy.
The article contrasts the 'dignified ignorance' of *Arrested Development*'s Lucille Bluth with Donald Trump's inability to ignore perceived slights, particularly from late-night comedians like Jimmy Kimmel. It details how Trump and his supporters disproportionately reacted to a Kimmel joke about Melania Trump being an 'expectant widow,' made prior to an assassination attempt on Trump. They 'retconned' the joke into a 'bloodthirsty, hate-filled call to violence,' despite its pre-event timing and Trump's own history of gloating about opponents. The author notes the irony of Trump's claims of incitement, given his own rhetoric, and points out the 'outsized importance' Trump places on Kimmel, contrasting it with Kimmel's moderate popularity and the general decline of late-night television. Trump's obsession is attributed to his background in linear TV, making him uniquely susceptible to monologue jokes, which he takes both seriously and personally. While this attention might grant comedians a 'free-speech-hero' status, the article criticizes those who credulously accept the Trumps' 'crocodile tears,' highlighting the absurdity of holding comedians to a greater account than elected leaders.
