As the curtain fell on the glitz and glamour of the 96th Academy Awards, Jimmy Kimmel, the irreverent host, couldn’t resist adding a touch of political spice to the star-studded affair. The stage was set for a memorable moment just before Al Pacino stepped forward to present the coveted Best Picture award for “Oppenheimer.”

Seizing the opportunity to inject some humor into the final minutes of the ceremony, Kimmel playfully disclosed that he had a minute or so left and decided to fill it with his perennial favorite subject – Donald Trump. With a mischievous glint in his eye, Kimmel revealed that the former president had taken to Truth Social, his preferred platform, to deliver a scathing review of Kimmel’s hosting prowess.

Displaying a mix of curiosity and amusement, Kimmel proceeded to share Donald Trump‘s unfiltered critique with the gathered audience, reading aloud from his phone. According to the ex-president, Kimmel’s opening performance was akin to that of a “less than average person” attempting too hard to be something he could never become. In true Trump fashion, the critique suggested ousting Kimmel and replacing him with another ABC personality, the seemingly forgotten George Slopanopoulos, described as “washed up” but budget-friendly.

As Kimmel read Trump’s words, he couldn’t resist injecting his signature humor into the mix, playfully ad-libbing with a sarcastic “Blah, blah, blah… Make America Great Again.” The room erupted in laughter at this unexpected moment of unscripted banter, and Kimmel, ever the quick-witted showman, didn’t continue reading the rest of Trump’s negative review.

With a sly grin, Kimmel addressed the crowd, expressing mock gratitude to President Trump for tuning in. In a cheeky jab, he quipped, “Thank you, President Trump. Thank you for watching. I’m surprised you’re still— isn’t it past your jail time?” The audience, caught off guard by the impromptu exchange, roared with laughter, capping off the evening with a memorable blend of Hollywood glitz and political wit.