American TV host Jimmy Kimmel stepped up to present the documentary awards at the Oscars and wasted no time bringing up the Amazon MGM documentary – ‘Melania’. Looking at the category, Kimmel quipped, “Oh man, is he going to be mad his wife wasn’t nominated for this.” He then took a playful swipe at the film itself, describing it as a documentary that basically consists of “walking around the White House trying on shoes.”
Kimmel takes a shot at Trump and Melania
The joke landed perfectly because everyone in the room knew exactly what he was referring to, and how quick Donald Trump usually is to fire off angry posts whenever he thinks Hollywood has snubbed him or his family.
Jimmy Kimmel took went after First Lady Melania Trump at the Oscars on Sunday by showing his misogynistic side.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 16, 2026
He tried to minimize her documentary ‘Melania’ as just a film about a “walk around the White House trying on shoes.”
She couldn’t care less.pic.twitter.com/16Z9PF5RKh
A stand for free speech
Kimmel’s appearance wasn’t just about the Trumps, though. He used the platform to launch a blistering attack on CBS and the FCC. He compared the network’s recent decision to pull a segment on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to the censorship seen in North Korea.
“We hear a lot about courage at shows like this,” Kimmel said, “but telling a story that could get you killed for telling it is real courage.” He further said that while some world leaders don’t support free speech, he wasn’t at liberty to say which ones, before immediately naming ‘North Korea and CBS.’
The jab was personal for Kimmel, who had his own run-in with Disney and the FCC last fall. By bringing the fight for free speech to the Oscar stage, he highlighted a growing tension between late-night hosts and the networks that broadcast them.
Amid the political jokes, ‘Mr Nobody Against Putin’ took home the Oscar for Documentary Feature. In the Documentary Short category, ‘All the Empty Rooms’ secured the trophy for directors Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones.
Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for Sinners, and Jessie Buckley made history as the first Irish woman to win Best Actress for Hamnet. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another took home Best Picture. In the documentary categories, Mr. Nobody Against Putin won for Documentary Feature, while All the Empty Rooms secured the trophy for Documentary Short.