Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel could not resist taking a swipe at former US President Donald Trump during Sunday night's ceremony, after Trump posted a scathing review on Truth Social branding Kimmel the 'WORST HOST' in Oscars history. Kimmel, 56, read the post aloud on stage before quipping: 'Isn't it past your jailtime?'
Trump's post criticised Kimmel's opening monologue as 'that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be.' He also slammed the ceremony as 'a really bad politically correct show' and suggested replacing Kimmel with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos, whom he mockingly called 'George Slopanopoulos.'
Kimmel, who had earlier told Deadline he would only use a Trump joke if he 'couldn't resist,' put the post on the big screen without initially revealing the author. After a pause for applause, he asked the audience: 'See if you can guess which former president posted that on Truth Social. Anyone? No?' before delivering the jailtime line.
The largely left-wing audience, including nominees Jodie Foster and Margot Robbie, roared with approval. Kimmel has long been a critic of Trump, once claiming he lost 'half' his audience over anti-Trump material. He described such jokes as a 'sacrifice' for ratings, noting that he was once the most popular talk show host among Republicans.
Trump's post also attacked the Oscars as 'disjointed, boring, and very unfair,' and called for ratings to improve by giving awards to 'those that deserve them.' The ceremony, which ran over three and a half hours, was widely panned by critics as 'turgid.'
