The 97th Academy Awards AKA the Oscars, made headlines, not for grand political statements, but for what was missing—any mention of President Donald Trump.
While Hollywood has long relished taking jabs at the current president, this year’s ceremony was eerily silent on political matters. Despite being one of the longest Oscar broadcasts in recent history, not a single presenter, winner, or host uttered Trump’s name. A stark contrast to years past, when late-night comedians and Hollywood elites openly ridiculed him at every opportunity.
Donald Trump sits down at an interview with Sean Hannity – YouTube, Fox News
READ: Warwick Davis Wins the Honor of the BAFTA Fellowship Award
Even Jimmy Kimmel, who has previously delighted in reading Trump’s tweets live on air, found himself largely sidelined from the conversation. The former late-night host once read out Trump’s scathing reviews of his Oscars hosting, including Trump’s critique of Kimmel’s monologue at the 2024 ceremony. But this year? Nothing. The shift in tone raises questions about Hollywood’s waning influence and the effectiveness of its political grandstanding.
Hollywood Bet Big—And Lost
For years, the entertainment industry positioned itself as a cultural powerhouse, aligning heavily with candidates like Kamala Harris. Yet, the results of the 2024 election made it clear that their efforts failed to resonate with everyday Americans. Trump not only secured the Electoral College victory but also won the popular vote, a decisive rejection of Hollywood’s political messaging. The industry, once seen as a tastemaker, now faces a reckoning over its dwindling influence.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande sing at the Oscars – YouTube, Oscars
Compare today’s restrained Oscars to past years when award shows regularly featured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy beamed in via satellite or A-list celebrities donning pins and ribbons to signal their latest cause. At the 2023 Golden Globes, Zelenskyy delivered a speech praising the “free world.” But now, just last week, he was sitting across from Trump at the White House, engaged in a tumultuous conversation in which he was ejected from the presidential residence.
A Muted Show
Host Conan O’Brien, a comedian known for avoiding politically charge topics, briefly acknowledged the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, but beyond that, the show largely avoided world affairs. Even Hollywood’s usual grandstanding over international conflicts was noticeably subdued. Daryl Hannah managed a brief “Slava Ukraine!” while presenting Best Editing, and a vague remark about “standing up to a powerful Russian” made it into O’Brien’s monologue. Beyond that, the Academy largely kept its head down.
In one of the most unexpected moments of the night, notorious anti-Trump actor Mark Hamill took the stage as a presenter. Known for his unhinged social media rants against the president, Hamill stunned audiences by staying completely on script. Perhaps he learned his lesson after many public embarrassments. He also apparently learned his lesson about wearing a proper belt after his wardrobe malfunction at the BAFTAs, where his pants fell down mid-speech.
Mark Hamill’s pants fall down and he tries to play it off.
🤣🤣🤣pic.twitter.com/mnHzgmbk9S— Script Trooper (@ScriptTrooper) February 18, 2025
Thankfully, the Oscars were spared a repeat of that embarrassing display.
A Hollywood Reckoning
The Academy’s reluctance to dive headfirst into political commentary this year suggests a larger shift. Perhaps after years of lecturing audiences, the industry is starting to realize that Americans aren’t looking to award shows for political sermons. The resounding rejection of Hollywood’s preferred candidates and narratives in the 2024 election was a wake-up call, and the silence at this year’s Oscars speaks volumes.
Conan O’Brien hosts The Oscars – YouTube, ABC
As the glitz and glamour fade, one thing is clear: Hollywood’s grip on the cultural and political conversation is slipping. With Trump back in the White House, the industry’s influence isn’t what it used to be. And judging by the Oscars’ noticeably restrained tone, even Hollywood knows it.
Are you surprised that no one at the Oscars openly attacked President Trump? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!
I think it’s more that Hollywoke is afraid. Afraid of further alienating audiences and afraid of the very real legal consequences over defamation even they can’t ignore now. Joy-Ann “Joyless” Reid, George Snuffleupagus, and too many CNN “anchors” to care about were just the beginning. Paramount and CBS are just the latest to feel long overdue retribution.
Even if the lawsuits end there, their bad decisions have come home to roost and are hatching all new problems. High-budget films are just not getting major returns when they’re not financial failures. Networks are dying because they can’t get enough viewers with preachy shows nobody wants to watch. The industry gambled and lost–massively–on streaming being the “next big thing for them” (see my post in today’s article about BNW being the “Number One film” at the box office). Cable news is dying but they’re in denial about it despite the atrocious ratings, repeated lawsuits, and desperate reshuffles that won’t save them.
Woke ideology isn’t the only reason Tinsel Town is dying, but it did speed up the collapse.