The 2026 Academy Awards once again proved that Hollywood’s biggest night rarely stays focused on movies for long as The Oscars quickly descended into politics.
While many winners kept their speeches centered on filmmaking, several presenters and filmmakers used the stage at the 98th Academy Awards to weigh in on global conflicts, domestic politics, and President Trump — continuing a long-running trend of political commentary during the ceremony.
Hosted by Conan O’Brien at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the night featured multiple moments where politics overshadowed the awards themselves.
At one point, actor Javier Bardem opened a presentation with a blunt political statement before announcing the winner for Best International Feature Film.
“No to war and free Palestine,” he said.
Bardem was also reportedly wearing a 2003 Iraq War protest pin, signaling that his political message was intentional.
Political Speech Continues With Best International Feature Winner
After the film Sentimental Value won Best International Feature, director Joachim Trier continued the political tone during his acceptance speech.
“I want to end by paraphrasing the wonderful American writer James Baldwin, who makes us remember that all adults are responsible for all children,” he said. “And let’s not vote for politicians who don’t take this seriously into account.”
Kieran Culkin in his Oscars acceptance speech – YouTube, ABC News
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Speaking to reporters backstage, Trier elaborated on the remarks and referenced multiple global conflicts.
“I think the world is at the moment when we are getting more information than ever about the wrongdoings made towards children in several wars going on,” he said.
He added that he believes politicians need to work together more closely.
“I’m not a politician, but I do believe that we need to go… across the aisle to be more collaborative about how we protect children in conflict situations.”
Documentary Winners Focus on Gun Violence and War
Political themes continued throughout the evening in the documentary categories.
The short documentary All the Empty Rooms, which chronicles the empty bedrooms of children killed in school shootings, featured emotional remarks from the family of one victim.
“My daughter Jackie was 9 years old when she was killed in Uvalde,” said Jackie’s mother, Gloria Cazales. “Gun violence is now the number one cause of death in kids and teens.”
Conan O’Brien hosting the Oscars – YouTube, ABC
Meanwhile, the Best Documentary Feature winner Mr. Nobody Against Putin addressed the war in Ukraine and authoritarian politics.
Director David Borenstein described the film as a warning about the erosion of democratic institutions.
“Mr. Nobody Against Putin is about how you lose your country,” he said.
The film’s subject, Pavel Talankin, used his speech to call for an end to global conflict.
“In the name of our future, in the name of all of our children, stop all of these wars now,” he said.
Backstage, Borenstein also sparked controversy by comparing political trends in the United States to those in Russia.
“[Donald] Trump was moving a lot quicker than [Vladimir] Putin moved in his early years,” he said.
Jimmy Kimmel Takes Shots at Trump…Again
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who has publicly feuded with President Trump for years, also brought political jokes to the ceremony while presenting the documentary awards.
At one point, he mocked media censorship.
“There are some countries whose leaders don’t support free speech… Let’s just leave it at North Korea and CBS,” he said.
Jimmy Kimmel reading tweets from President Trump at The Oscars – YouTube, New York Post
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Kimmel also referenced his latest obsession, the success of the film Melania, starring First Lady Melania Trump while joking about the documentary category.
“Oh man, is he gonna be mad his wife wasn’t nominated for this.”
Even the Host Warned the Night Could Get Political
Oscars host Conan O’Brien openly acknowledged the likelihood of politics coming into play during his opening monologue.
“I should warn you, tonight things could get political,” he said. “There’s an alternate Oscars hosted by Kid Rock at the Dave and Busters down the street.”
Conan O’Brief hosts the Oscars – YouTube, Deadline Hollywood
O’Brien was most recently featured in national news for refusing to allow guests at his Christmas party to call 9-1-1 on Rob Reiner’s son Nick Reiner shortly before he allegedly murdered his parents.
While O’Brien later struck a more serious tone about global cooperation and the role of film in difficult times, the ceremony ultimately reinforced a familiar pattern.
Hollywood’s Political Stage
Political speeches during the Academy Awards are nothing new. Over the past decade, the ceremony has increasingly become a platform for celebrities to weigh in on elections, foreign policy, and social issues.
For critics of the trend, the concern is that the industry’s most prestigious awards show continues drifting away from celebrating filmmaking itself.
Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler present together at the Oscars – X, @priceoreason
Instead, each year seems to bring another round of speeches and jokes that turn the Oscars stage into a political soapbox — something many movie fans say they’ve grown tired of.
Whether audiences embrace those messages or roll their eyes at them, the 2026 Oscars once again made it clear that Hollywood still isn’t shy about mixing politics with its biggest night.
Are you surprised that the Oscars descended into politics yet again? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
Imagine wasting your time watching this Hollywood puke.
Too bad about Conan. Between him and then Craig Ferguson late night was watchable.
Looks like things haven’t gone well for him.
I think TDS is permanent. They will never stop talking about him.
What they do not know, people who despise Holliwood would
support Trump just because it makes celebs angry and sad.
These people are pathetic that doing the things against their will
is just fun to do.