The president, quipped Kimmel without using Trump's name, is "gonna be mad his wife wasn't nominated" for an Oscar for her documentary
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Jimmy Kimmel was among the presenters for the 98th Academy Awards on March 15
- Presenting the Oscars for Best Documentary Feature Film and Best Documentary Short, the comedian took digs at First Lady Melania Trump’s own recent doc
- Without naming Donald Trump, Kimmel joked the president would “be mad his wife wasn’t nominated for this”
Jimmy Kimmel took aim at Donald and Melania Trump onstage during the Oscars.
As a presenter at the Conan O’Brien-hosted 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15, Kimmel, 58, opened by referencing his history emceeing the ceremony: “Wait, am I not hosting the show?”
Kimmel was tasked with introducing this year's winners for the Oscars for Best Documentary Feature Film and Best Documentary Short. During the intro, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host took the opportunity to make a jab at Melania, 55, whose recent Brett Ratner-directed documentary did not make an awards season splash.
“We hear a lot about courage at shows like this, but telling a story that could get you killed for telling it is real courage. As you know, there are some countries whose leaders don’t support free speech — I’m not at liberty to say which,” quipped the comedian. “Let’s just leave it at North Korea and CBS.”
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
He continued, “Fortunately, for all of us, there is an international community of filmmakers dedicated to telling the truth, oftentimes at great risk, to make films that teach us, that call out injustice, that inspire us to take action. And there are also documentaries where you walk around the White House trying on shoes.”
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Melania, released by Amazon MGM Studios on Jan. 30, details the First Lady’s life in the 20 days before her husband’s second presidential inauguration. The movie has earned an 11% approval rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics.
Kimmel, without naming the president, referenced him again when introducing the Oscars’ feature-length documentary category. "Oh man, is he gonna be mad his wife wasn't nominated for this,” he quipped.
Donald, 79, joined the first lady at the Kennedy Center for the premiere of her film on Jan. 29. He then called Melania "a movie star" in a March 9 address to House Republicans at a Florida golf club during the caucus’ annual policy retreat. “She’s got the biggest … Can you believe this? That movie was hot and it is hot,” he added then. "It was a good movie."
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty
Trump and Kimmel have been longtime critics of each other. The president took time to celebrate the temporary cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live! back in September 2025. On Dec. 8, shortly after he secured his show’s spot on ABC through 2027, Kimmel challenged the former Apprentice host to a talent competition. “He can play golf, spank a porn star and ruin the country.”
Mr Nobody Against Putin ultimately took home the trophy for Best Documentary Feature Film on Sunday. All the Empty Rooms won for Best Documentary Short.
See PEOPLE's coverage of the 98th Academy Awards, airing live on ABC and Hulu on March 15.
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