Jimmy Kimmel’s Oscar Monologue: Trump, Timberlake & Mel Gibson Jokes
Jimmy Kimmel opened the 89th Academy Awards with a monologue touching on the safe (Justin Timblerlake), the risky (Mel Gibson) and the inevitable (Donald Trump).
It was, ultimately, a fairly non-controversial opening, which isn't to say it was bad. Kimmel landed some solid jokes, and even made an attempt at national inclusiveness, prefacing it by saying that he himself was incapable of unifying the country. "I can't do that," Kimmel said, before launching into a Braveheart joke.
But then he asked his audience and the millions watching at home, "If every one of you took a minute to reach out to one person you disagree with, someone you like, and have a positive, considerate conversation -- not as liberals or conservatives, as Americans -- if we would all do that, we could make America great again. We really could. It starts with us."
It didn't take long, though, for Kimmel to take a jab at our new president:
"I want to say thank you to President Trump," Kimmel said, recalling last years #OscarsSoWhite drama. "I mean, remember last year when the Oscars seemed racist?"
We're betting this won't be the last Trump joke made tonight.