The 2025 Oscars had its fair share of surprises, but Conan O’Brien’s sharp remark about Donald Trump stood out. The comedian, who hosted the event, made a subtle yet pointed joke that quickly became one of the night’s most talked-about moments.
Unlike past ceremonies, this year’s Academy Awards had minimal political commentary. However, O’Brien managed to slip in a remark that indirectly referenced Trump and his relationship with Russia. While discussing the film Anora, which won multiple awards, O’Brien quipped, “I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian.”
Though he never mentioned Trump’s name, the audience quickly caught on to the reference. The comment alluded to Trump’s ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, especially concerning his recent clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk posted a video of former US President Bill Clinton praising Vladimir Putin. He added a caption that read, “Bill Clinton is a genius. Trump says the exact same thing, and he’s called a Russian puppet.”
Other moments throughout the Oscars also carried political undertones, reported the New York Times. Actress Daryl Hannah, while presenting the award for Best Editing, made a brief yet powerful statement, “Slava Ukraine.” Meanwhile, Zoe Saldaña, who won Best Supporting Actress, highlighted her immigrant background in her acceptance speech, subtly touching on Trump’s strict immigration policies. “I am a proud child of immigrant parents with dreams and dignity and hardworking hands,” she said.
The most openly political moment came during the Best Documentary Feature award. The winning film, No Other Land, explored Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes. Palestinian filmmaker Basel Adra used his speech to call for action against the “ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people,” while Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham criticised U.S. foreign policy for blocking solutions to the conflict. “And I have to say, as I am here, the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path,” he said.
