Jimmy Kimmel waded into political waters during his introductory monologue at the 89th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, CA. Implied punchlines included a global hatred of America following the election of Donald Trump as its president, supposedly amplified national political divisions as a function of the Trump administration, and early morning Twitter sessions from the 45th president.
Trump’s election, Kimmel quipped, wrought global hatred upon Americans:
“This broadcast is being watched live by millions of Americans and around the world in more than 225 countries that now hate us, and I think that is an amazing thing.”
Kimmel also hyped political and partisan divisions across the country as a function of Trump’s administration:
“As you know, I don’t have to tell anybody, the country is divided right now. I’ve been getting a lot of advice. People have been telling me, ‘It’s time to bring everyone together. You need to say something, to unite us.’ And, let’s just get something straight off the top–I can’t do that. That’s not, there’s only one Braveheart in this room [points to Mel Gibson], and he’s not going to unite us either.”
Trump’s early morning Twitter sessions also earned a joke:
“Some of you will get to come up here on this stage tonight and give a speech that the President of the United States will tweet about in all-caps during his 5 AM bowel movement tomorrow.”
Kimmel singled out Meryl Streep during his monologue for her lengthy Hollywood career. Inviting Streep to take a stand and receive extended applause from the audience was presumably an ode to her self-congratulatory acceptance speech upon receiving a lifetime achievement award at 74th Golden Globe awards last month in Beverly Hills, CA.
Kimmel offered no jokes at the expense of Hollywood leftism or cultural decadence.
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