The 45th president of the U.S., Donald Trump, took a dig at the famous American host, Jimmy Kimmel. Well-known for being a successful television host, comedian, writer, and producer, Jimmy Kimmel was appointed as the host of the 96th Academy Awards.
Even though the audience and people around the world are at peace with the show’s hosting and award distribution, Mr. Trump had some cards to play. The respectable former American President lambasted the 2024 Oscars ceremony a bit harshly, only to get a hit back at him.
Donald Trump Criticized Jimmy Kimmel’s Hosting Abilities
The 96th Academy Awards was held on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theater, in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The ceremony was presented by the Academy of Motion Pictures Art and Sciences (AMPAS). The hosting mic was in the hands of Jimmy Kimmel for the 4th time as he was also the host of the Oscars in 2017, 2018, and 2023.
However, Donald Trump thrashed Kimmel’s experience and criticized him and the show to his heart’s content. It was not the first time Trump to come forward with such criticism as it has been an Oscars night tradition now. According to the Independent, the former U.S. President criticized Kimmel’s hosting abilities on his social media site Truth Social:
“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.”
While this is not the first time the former President has expressed his thoughts about the Oscars, Kimmel had a good comeback for him this time. Not to mention that the popular TV host also took a hit at filmmaker Christopher Nolan. That being said, Trump did not seem to be the only person who had an issue with the host as Matt Damon was also not too happy with Kimmel’s hosting.
This is Not the First Time Donald Trump Has Criticized the Oscars
Posting criticism of the 2024 Oscars’ hosting is not the only thing that Trump has done. In 2021, his office emailed a statement bashing the Oscars to the reporters since he was indefinitely banned from X at the time. The statement read (via Deadline):
“What used to be called The Academy Awards, and now is called the ‘Oscars’ —a far less important and elegant name—had the lowest Television Ratings in recorded history, even much lower than last year, which set another record low. If they keep with the current ridiculous formula, it will only get worse—if that’s possible.”
Even in 2020 (via Claudia Koerner on X), Trump had issues with Parasite being awarded the Best Picture of that year.
Trump goes off on the Oscars for giving Best Picture to Parasite because it's a South Korean movie pic.twitter.com/GUGKdExTbw
— Claudia Koerner (@ClaudiaKoerner) February 21, 2020
However, this time, the TV host clapped back at him on live, saying: “Isn’t it past your jail time?” He also did not spare legendary actor Robert De Niro. It seems like Kimmel had no plans of backing down an inch, even if he was facing the former president of America or someone as great as De Niro.
