Share and Follow
During the 2026 Academy Awards, Jimmy Kimmel took center stage to deliver a series of politically charged remarks aimed at former President Donald Trump and CBS. The late-night comedian stirred up quite the buzz while presenting the documentary awards at the Oscars.
Kimmel, known for his sharp wit, didn’t hold back as he commented on the President, the First Lady’s recent film project, and what he described as encroachments on free speech.
“There are some countries whose leaders don’t support free speech,” Kimmel remarked to the audience, sparking intrigue and laughter.
He continued with a sly nod, “I’m not at liberty to say which, but let’s just leave it at North Korea and CBS.”
The audience inside the theater chuckled at the quip, recognizing it as a pointed critique of CBS. The network had faced backlash the previous year for canceling “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and allegedly reshaping its news division to align more closely with Trump’s views.
CBS News is now led by Bari Weiss, a conservative commentator-turned-media entrepreneur, whose appointment was seen as a nod to the Trump administration.
The network announced last year that it was ending Colbert’s long-running late-night program, describing the move at the time as a ‘financial decision.’
Kimmel’s remark framed the cancellation in far more provocative terms, suggesting the decision was connected to free speech.Â
Jimmy Kimmel presented an award at the Oscars on Sunday night. While on stage, Kimmel joked that some places that do not support free speech include ‘North Korea and CBS’
Donald Trump previously criticized Kimmel hosting the Oscars in 2024 and reveled when his late-night comedy show was suspended last year
The comedian also took aim at Melania Trump’s film while introducing one of the night’s non-fiction awards.
As he discussed the importance of documentaries, often produced under difficult conditions to expose injustice or tell important stories, Kimmel made a sarcastic contrast.
‘There are also documentaries where you walk around the White House trying on shoes,’ he said.
The remark referenced Melania, a documentary that followed the First Lady as she prepared to return to the White House.
Kimmel then continued the theme as he announced the Best Documentary Feature winner, joking that someone in particular might be upset.
‘Oh man, is he gonna be mad his wife wasn’t nominated for this,’ Kimmel said in another swipe at Trump.
Kimmel and the President have clashed publicly for years, frequently trading insults across television and social media.
Join the debate
Did Jimmy Kimmel go too far with his Oscars ‘free speech’ swipe at CBS?
Kimmel also mocked Melania Trump’s documentary released earlier this year. Kimmel said there are documentaries where you ‘walk around the White House trying on shoes’
The First Lady attends the world premiere of her film Melania in January
CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last July, with the top-rated show scheduled to air its final episode in May. The network cited ‘purely financial’ reasons, noting the high cost of production of the show
During the 2024 Oscars, Kimmel even read aloud a message Trump posted on his social platform, Truth Social, criticizing the host’s performance.
‘Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars,’ Trump wrote at the time. ‘His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be.’
The feud escalated again last year after Kimmel’s late-night show was temporarily suspended following controversial remarks about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
‘Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED,’ the President wrote online after the suspension was announced.
Kimmel returned to his nightly broadcast five days later. Â