During the Oscars broadcast, just before the best picture announcement by Al Pacino, host Jimmy Kimmel paused to address a critical post made by Donald Trump on social media.
Trump's post targeted Kimmel's performance as host: “Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars. His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be. Get rid of Kimmel and perhaps replace him with another washed up, but cheap, ABC ‘talent,’ George Slopanopoulos,” apparently misspelling George Stephanopoulos’s name.
He also criticized the show as "politically correct," "disjointed," "boring," and "very unfair," suggesting that awards should go to those who truly deserve them to improve ratings and viewership, ending with "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
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Kimmel humorously responded to Trump's jab, saying, “Blah, blah, blah … Okay, now, see if you can guess which former president just posted that on TruthSocial. Anyone? No? Well, thank you, President Trump. Thank you for watching, I’m surprised you’re still — isn’t it past your jail time?”
Aside from Kimmel's retort, the 2024 Oscars largely steered clear of Trump mentions.
Nonetheless, political elements were present, notably through attendees like Mark Ruffalo and Billie Eilish wearing red pins to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza. Protests concerning the Gaza conflict attracted hundreds outside the Kodak Theater, causing a delay in the ceremony's start.
Jonathan Glazer, winning best international feature for "The Zone of Interest," spoke against the violence in the Middle East, emphasizing the dangers of dehumanization by drawing on his film’s Holocaust theme.
This year marked Jimmy Kimmel's fourth occasion hosting the Oscars.
