{"id":2597721,"date":"2026-05-01T13:10:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T17:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-report-card-kimmel-joke-bombs-trump-gets-royal-rub\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T13:14:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T17:14:13","slug":"white-house-report-card-kimmel-joke-bombs-trump-gets-royal-rub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-report-card-kimmel-joke-bombs-trump-gets-royal-rub\/","title":{"rendered":"White House report card: Kimmel joke bombs, Trump gets royal rub"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhite-house-report-card-kimmel-joke-bombs-trump-gets-royal-rub%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2597721&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Friday\u2019s *Washington Secrets* recounts a turbulent White House week while noting an unusual overlap in concerns across the political spectrum-following a chaotic, high-profile weekend.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest immediate story was an assassination attempt on Trump during the White House Correspondents\u2019 Association dinner, which drove lingering questions about whether security was sufficient. Trump and his team quickly framed the incident politically, emphasizing the need for his own White House setting, while also drawing criticism for how they discussed the shooter\u2019s manifesto.<\/p>\n<p>The week than shifted to several developments: a state visit welcoming King Charles III and Queen Camilla; iran tensions and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >rising oil prices alongside signals<\/a> that the U.S. would pressure Tehran further; and Trump\u2019s social-media-style \u201cmemes,\u201d including renaming the Strait of Hormuz. On Capitol Hill, the House approved legislation to fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, ending a long shutdown while leaving other contentious immigration issues unresolved.<\/p>\n<p>Panelists (John Zogby and Jed Babbin) grade the week-both giving it a \u201cB\u201d-but focus on different concerns: Zogby highlights the broader problems piling up, including Iran stalemate pressures, domestic political setbacks, and the Justice Department\u2019s renewed case against former FBI director James Comey over an \u201c86 47\u201d seashell image. Babbin likewise returns to assassination\/security themes, criticizes a tasteless remark by Jimmy Kimmel about melania Trump, and emphasizes continued foreign conflict and the shutdown\u2019s eventual end.<\/p>\n<p>The article closes with \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-brits-still-have-a-secret-weapon-to-try-on-trump-in-the-war-over-greenland\/\" title=\"The Brits still have a secret weapon to try on ... in the war over Greenland\">lunchtime reading<\/a>\u201d links and reminders about the column and it&#8217;s author.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><strong><em>Welcome to Friday\u2019s <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>, with our regular roundup of the White House week. And something extraordinary has happened. Our Republican and Democratic judges agree! Well, sort of \u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Will there ever be a quiet week while Donald Trump is president? Well, there\u2019s no sign of it yet.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4549223\/trump-pollster-gop-running-against-itself-offense-midterm-elections\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump pollster: GOP must stop running against itself and go on offense ahead of midterm elections<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4547402\/will-trump-hear-king-subtle-message-restraint-comey\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Will Trump hear the king\u2019s subtle message on restraint? Ask Comey<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4545469\/inside-hottest-garden-party-king-charles-visit\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Inside the hottest party in town as royal mania takes over Washington<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The weekend, of course, was notable for an assassination attempt, foiled by quick-thinking Secret Service agents stationed outside the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house-correspondents-association\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house-correspondents-association\/\">White House Correspondents\u2019 Association<\/a> dinner. Questions about whether security was tight enough or should have sealed off the entire hotel will linger.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Trump and his aides were quick to make political capital out of the shooting, saying that it underlined the need for his White House ballroom. The president made the point in a <em>60 Minutes<\/em> interview on Sunday, and also slammed CBS News\u2019 Norah O\u2019Donnell for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4543819\/trump-60-minutes-shooter-manifesto-allegations\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4543819\/trump-60-minutes-shooter-manifesto-allegations\/\">quoting from the gunman\u2019s manifesto.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Monday brought a much-needed change of pace. The Trump\u2019s welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla as they arrived for their state visit, timed to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, minutes after the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/parker-dusting-off-dr-kings-great-message\/\" title=\"PARKER: Dusting Off Dr. ...s Great Message\">king delivered<\/a> a gentle message about limiting executive power in a speech to Congress, the Trump administration indicted <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-comey\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/james-comey\/\"><strong>James Comey<\/strong><\/a>, former FBI director, for sharing an image of shells spelling out \u201c86 47.\u201d There was also a reminder that the Iran war rumbles on without resolution. Oil prices surged (with Brent crude topping $120 for a while) as the president said he would make life even worse for Tehran.<\/p>\n<p>But he still has the memes. On Wednesday, the president shared a map on Truth Social that renamed the Strait of Hormuz as \u201cthe Strait of Trump\u201d and showed shipping moving freely through the waterway.<\/p>\n<p>Thursday brought perhaps the most positive news. The House approved a Senate-passed bill to fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, ending the 75-day shutdown while punting other tricky issues down the road. It doesn\u2019t provide new funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol, with Democrats insisting on reform.<\/p>\n<p>So what does out panel make of it?<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-john-zogby-grade-b\">John Zogby: Grade B<\/h2>\n<p>The week began with an assassination attempt and serious questions about the Secret Service and the security plan for a major event involving the president and senior officials. <\/p>\n<p>Somehow, late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel gets mentioned in this context because he became embroiled in an issue of a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4544303\/melania-slams-coward-jimmy-kimmel-whcd-parody-skit-first-family\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4544303\/melania-slams-coward-jimmy-kimmel-whcd-parody-skit-first-family\/\">stupid, tasteless joke about the first lady<\/a>. Kimmel does not deserve the attention because he is not funny. But the president\u2019s family members should be off limits, and his timing was unfortunate.<\/p>\n<p>The president has real worries, and the problems for him and the rest of us are piling up and getting worse. The war in Iran is not working, negotiations are at a stalemate, neither the United States nor Iran has a way out of this, and the Strait of Hormuz is still closed. The price of oil is at its highest thus far in the nine-week war, and there doesn\u2019t seem to be any relief in sight.<\/p>\n<p>Firefighters in the western states are deeply concerned about having enough fuel to combat wildfires at  the prices local governments have to pay. <\/p>\n<p>Also this week, Trump had to withdraw the nomination of Casey Means as surgeon general because a Republican senator would not vote for her. A federal appeals judge refused to rehear the $83 million verdict against the president awarded to author E. Jean Carroll for her claim that he sexually assaulted her in a department store.<\/p>\n<p>A new Reuters poll has the president\u2019s approval at 34%, while John Zogby Strategies has it at 42%. More importantly, most polls have Trump in a downward spiral. <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Meanwhile, the Democrats picked up possibly as many as five new seats in Congress after voters approved their <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/op-eds\/4550335\/virginia-redistricting-republicans-ignore-blue-cities\/\">redistricting plan in Virginia<\/a>.<\/span> But Florida will try for a new plan that adds four GOP seats. Other states are sure to follow. And the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 vote, eliminated the law that ensures the creation of black (and white) districts, in a serious blow to the Voting Rights Act.<\/p>\n<p>The Justice Department is again going after Comey. Charges against the former FBI director and other prominent figures were dropped previously, but this time the centerpiece of the government\u2019s case revolved around Comey sharing an image of seashells on a beach spelling \u201c86 47\u201d. In their minds, \u201c86\u201d, generally used as a way signal \u201cget rid of\u201d, \u201cthrow away\u201d, or \u201cshred,\u201d is a call to \u201cassassinate\u201d POTUS \u201c47,\u201d aka Trump. Can this be for real?<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, aside from Trump\u2019s victory in the Supreme Court, I am going to bump him up a whole letter grade for Kimmel\u2019s totally inappropriate behavior. Plus, I happen to be a Charlie-phile. His Majesty is a month younger than me, and we sort of grew up together \u2014 but only one of us is aware of that. Having Trump standing next to this elegant, erudite, visionary man earns POTUS another whole letter grade.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-jed-babbin-grade-b\">Jed Babbin: Grade B<\/h2>\n<p>The big news of the week was the third assassination attempt on the life of Trump. The Secret Service did its job well, tackling the would-be assassin when he tried to rush past the security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents\u2019 Association black-tie dinner, aka nerd prom. (I went once. It was a total bore.) One uniformed Secret Service agent was shot but saved by his body armor.<\/p>\n<p>Kimmel, the would-be comedian, said two days earlier that Melania Trump had the look of an \u201cexpectant widow.\u201d His \u201cjoke\u201d wasn\u2019t funny. It was one of the worst displays of Trump Derangement Syndrome on record. Kimmel should be fired for it. He won\u2019t be.<\/p>\n<p>That wasn\u2019t the only display of Democrats outrunning their headlights. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ilhan-omar\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ilhan-omar\/\">Rep Ilhan Omar<\/a> (D-Somalia) said that the Alien Enemies Act hadn\u2019t been used since it was invoked to deport German, Italian, and other possible enemies during \u201cWorld War 11.\u201d The fact that people so irretrievably ignorant of history get elected to Congress proves the need for term limits.<\/p>\n<p>Abroad, the Iran war still goes on. War Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress this week that the ceasefire pauses the clock on Trump\u2019s 60-day War Powers Resolution limit before he has to go to the Hill for approval.\u00a0The WPA, which may not be constitutional, probably can\u2019t be limited by a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Trump has said he\u2019ll no longer be the \u201cnice guy\u201d toward Iran. The blockade continues without European help, and Iran is apparently awash in unsold oil. But the ayatollahs\u2019 regime needs only to survive to win.<\/p>\n<p>The Democrats\u2019 attempt to shut down the Department of Homeland Security ended, finally, after 76 days, which is a record. The Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard, and other necessary protective services can now continue (as they previously did under Trump\u2019s emergency declaration) until the next time the Dems want to grandstand another shutdown.<\/p>\n<p>All in all, not a bad week for Trump and his team.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Jed Babbin<\/strong> is a <\/em>Washington Examiner<em> contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on X <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jedbabbin\"><strong>@jedbabbin<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>John Zogby <\/strong>is the founder of the Zogby Survey and senior partner at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/johnzogbystrategies.com\/\"><strong>John Zogby Strategies<\/strong>.<\/a> His latest book is <\/em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Beyond-Horse-Race-Polls-Should\/dp\/1538197146\"><strong>Beyond the Horse Race: How to Read Polls and Why We Should<\/strong><\/a><em>. His podcast with son, managing partner, and pollster Jeremy Zogby, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/johnzogbystrategies.com\/the-zogby-report\/\"><strong>can be heard here<\/strong>.<\/a> Follow him on X <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/zogbystrategies\"><strong>@ZogbyStrategies<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lunchtime-reading\">Lunchtime reading<\/h2>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4549089\/is-todd-blanche-acing-attorney-general-job-interview\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4549089\/is-todd-blanche-acing-attorney-general-job-interview\/\"><strong>Is Todd Blanche acing his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-files-complaint-against-new-jersey-for-providing-in-state-college-tuition-to-illegal-immigrants\/\" title=\"DOJ files complaint against New Jersey for providing in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants\">attorney general job interview<\/a>?<\/strong><\/a>  You know the rule: Any news headline with a question mark must be answered with a \u201cno.\u201d But my colleagues see things differently, reporting that Trumpworld has been impressed with Blanche\u2019s efforts so far.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/2574d95b-57ff-4622-afb4-a29177c7c562?syn-25a6b1a6=1\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/2574d95b-57ff-4622-afb4-a29177c7c562?syn-25a6b1a6=1\"><strong>Chinese dissident Li Ying: \u2018Our work is about being ready for the tipping point\u2019<\/strong><\/a>: Apologies for offering something behind a paywall. But this is fascinating, particularly the bit about why he picked McDonald\u2019s out of all the possible restaurants.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>You are reading <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>, a guide to power and politics in D.C. and beyond. It is written by Rob Crilly, who you can reach at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#2556404657405156655244564d4c4b42514a4b405d44484c4b40570b464a48\"><span class=\"__cf_email__\" data-cfemail=\"f586909687908186b58294869d9c9b92819a9b908d94989c9b9087db969a98\">[email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/a>  with your comments, story tips, and suggestions. If a friend sent you this and you\u2019d like to sign up, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/xprvgynrhhctscghtpnrptnqlrtypjmjlkrlcnpvhgpdcr_jtjrvfbrrsmwbqmnsbmvsv.html?a=Washington+Secrets+Lara+Trump&#038;b=01%2F21%2F2026&#038;c=WEX_Washington+Secrets&#038;d=25812206&#038;e=da31c45955c9411a6c40ecd0e967fa8def1f0fc08362faaa0dee09386ff5c41b\">click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to Friday\u2019s Washington Secrets-this week\u2019s White House roundup.<br \/>\nRepublican and Democratic judges even agree\u2026 sort of. Will it ever be quiet under Trump? No sign yet<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4136,"featured_media":2597722,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26120582700877.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[14890,5894,3634,32127],"class_list":["post-2597721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-entertainment","tag-politics","tag-trump","tag-white-house"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26120582700877.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2597721","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2597721"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2597721\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2597725,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2597721\/revisions\/2597725"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2597722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2597721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2597721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2597721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}