The star-studded audience at this year's Academy Awards laughed loudly at host Jimmy Kimmel's clapback at former President Donald Trump.
The Context
Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential race, slammed Kimmel's hosting of the event on his Truth Social platform during the ceremony.
What We Know
"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," Trump wrote. "Get rid of Kimmel and perhaps replace him with another washed up, but cheap, ABC 'talent,' George Slopanopoulos. He would make everybody on stage look bigger, stronger, and more glamorous."
Trump added: "Also a really bad politically correct show tonight, and for years - Disjointed, boring, and very unfair. Why don't they just give the Oscars to those that deserve them. Maybe that way their audience and TV ratings will come back from the depths. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
Kimmel hit back at the former president towards the end of the show, reading Trump's social media criticism out loud while on stage.
"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?" Kimmel quipped.
Views
The A-list stars loved Kimmel's joke and cheered loudly afterward. Many people took to social media to express their views of the host's clapback at the former president.
George Conway, a conservative lawyer who co-founded the anti-Trump political action committee, The Lincoln Project, praised Kimmel on X, formerly Twitter.
"This is exactly how to deal with Trump. Highlight his bizarre behavior and make fun of it. Thank you,@jimmykimmel," Conway wrote on X.
Radio announcer David Williams added: "Very funny from Jimmy 👏🏻👏🏻."
But some others were not so keen on the joke.
"In ten years, nobody will know who Jim was, but Trump will be in consideration for Mount Rushmore," wrote @Kevinsmithspc."
What's Next
Newsweek contacted representatives for Kimmel and Trump by email for comment.
Kimmel posted a clip of his joke to his Instagram page with the caption: "This is my Oscar. Thank you Donald Trump."
Trump didn't respond to Kimmel's jab on his Truth Social page, instead reposting a post from End Wokeness account and complaining about the Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis who brought charges of election interference against him.
"How can Fani Willis possibly oversee a case which is completely compromised and fraudulently brought by her and her highly paid lover? She NEVER paid cash as a reimbursement to him. If she did, where did she get the cash, an even bigger problem? She lied in order to get out of a problem. Very easy to prove!" he started.
"Everything should be immediately dropped and let the American Patriots "go home." Absolve them all from this terrible, and totally disproven, Witch Hunt! ELECTION INTERFERENCE in conjunction with the Crooked Joe Biden DOJ and White House!"
Update 03/11/2024 at 1:58 a.m. ET. This article was updated with additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more
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