Oscars Get Political: Trump’s Media Fury Met With Hollywood’s Bold Rebuttal Amid Chaos

This year’s Academy Awards ceremony took on a noticeably political tone, influenced not only by the themes of the winning films, such as One Battle After Another and Sinners, but also by the clear and subtle nods to the turbulent era of Donald Trump’s presidency.

From the outset, host Conan O’Brien highlighted the current global climate of conflict, threats, and division, stating, “To take a serious moment, everyone tuning in globally is acutely conscious that we are living through times of intense fear and chaos. It’s during these times that I believe the Oscars hold significant relevance.”

O’Brien continued, “Tonight, we celebrate not only cinema but the values of global creativity, cooperation, endurance, resilience, and, most uniquely today, hope.”

Humor and social commentary have long been staples at the Oscars, but the extent of political engagement from the stage varies year by year.

This evening’s event included remarks on the diverse backgrounds of nominees, the unifying power of film, and the groundbreaking achievements of first-time diverse winners.

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In his acceptance speech for one of his three Oscars, Paul Thomas Anderson spoke about the upcoming generation, which he hopes will “bring us some common sense and decency.”

International feature winner Joachim Trier, for Sentimental Value, invoked James Baldwin in his speech, emphasizing that “all adults are responsible for all children, and we shouldn’t elect leaders who fail to recognize this.”

During the tributes to recently deceased stars Rob Reiner and Robert Redford, their political engagements and influence were acknowledged, despite often being mocked by conservative critics.

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Others used their platform to address specific issues such as the situation in Gaza, the war in Iran, or the importance of free speech. Javier Bardem began his presentation by declaring, “No to war, and free Palestine.”

Jimmy Kimmel, known for his comedic opposition to Trump, delivered jokes reminiscent of his late-night style. He quipped about a documentary by Melania Trump, drawing criticism from White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, who labeled Kimmel a “classless hack,” among other insults.

While presenting the documentary awards, Kimmel highlighted, “We often talk about bravery here, but true bravery is telling a story that could endanger your life for simply telling it. There are nations where leaders suppress free speech. I won’t name names, but let’s just say North Korea and CBS.”

This comment was particularly pertinent when Kimmel awarded the best documentary feature to Mr. Nobody Against Putin, a film about a teacher challenging Russian state propaganda amid the Ukraine invasion.

Co-director David Borenstein pointed out during his acceptance speech, “This film is about losing your country through myriad small acts of complicity. When we remain silent in the face of government atrocities or media monopolization by oligarchs, we’re faced with a moral decision.”

Approximately an hour before Borenstein’s speech, Trump vented on Truth Social about media portrayals of the war in Iran, denouncing “corrupt and highly unpatriotic ‘news’ organizations” and “late-night idiots.” He suggested that these media outlets could be charged with treason “for spreading misinformation,” while praising his FCC chairman’s threats against broadcasters.

Trump’s tirade seemed to underscore an earlier point made by O’Brien and others at the Dolby Theatre: by highlighting the current disarray, this year’s Oscars resonated deeply with the audience.