Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel used his show to humorously criticize former President Donald Trump for publicly wishing his wife Melania a “Happy Birthday” outside a New York courthouse during his ongoing trial for 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents, connected to alleged “hush money” payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Kimmel noted that Trump stood outside the Manhattan Criminal Court, where he is facing charges related to hush money, and expressed well-wishes to Melania on her birthday. Kimmel suggested that this was an odd location to send a birthday message to one’s wife, commenting that Trump could simply call her on the phone instead. He also joked about Trump’s trial, stating that it might not be good for his mood, and questioned how oblivious one must be to wish a happy birthday to their spouse in front of a courthouse during a trial.
“I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday,” Trump said. “Be nice to be with her, but I’m at a courthouse for a rigged trial. Terrible.”
“Yesterday was a big day,” he continued. “But I do have to begin by wishing Melania ‘Happy Birthday.’ ”
In response to the clip, Kimmel quipped: “How sweet. You could also call her on the phone.
“How oblivious do you have to be to wish your wife a happy birthday outside the courtroom where you’re on trial for paying off a porn star?”
Trump has denied the affair allegations with Daniels and refuted the fraud charges related to payments made to her. However, Kimmel’s satirical take on the former president’s birthday message to Melania, delivered amidst serious legal troubles, highlighted the unusual and potentially awkward context in which it occurred.
