Jimmy Kimmel made time to take a proverbial swipe at Donald Trump during the Oscars on Sunday, responding to a critical post from the former president.
Hosting the 96th Annual Academy Awards, Kimmel was about to throw to Al Pacino, who was presenting the award for Best Picture (Oppenheimer won ICYMI). But before the final moment of the night, the host decided to briefly pause to read aloud Trump’s most recent post on his own social media platform Truth Social, which directly criticised Kimmel and the Oscars — Kimmel called it a “review” onstage.
“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,” Trump wrote, and we’re assuming he’s naming George Stephanopoulos. “He would make everybody on stage look bigger, stronger, and more glamorous.”
“See if you can guess which former president just posted that?” Kimmel asked the audience, then offering the line that has everyone talking: “Thank you President Trump, thank you for watching. I’m surprised you’re still wa—isn’t it past your jail time?”
“Isn’t it past your jail time?”
– Jimmy Kimmel
Trump is the first president, former or current, charged with criminal activity. He is facing multiple criminal cases, both political and business related, at federal and state levels, which will unfold over the year amid his bid to run as the Republican presidential candidate in the 2024 U.S. election. In February, the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether former Trump is is eligible for “presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office.” The case has been set for oral argument at the end of April.
Of course, there were other major moments at this year’s Oscars, including John Mulaney’s riff on Field of Dreams, Ryan Gosling performing Barbie ballad “I’m Just Ken,” Gosling and Emily Blunt bringing their Barbenheimer beef to the Oscars stage, and John Cena presenting in the nude.
In terms of the gold, Oppenheimer scored seven awards including Best Picture, while Poor Things took home four awards, and Killers of the Flower Moon shockingly received none.
Here’s all the winners from this year’s Oscars.
