Jimmy Kimmel Responds to Donald Trump's Insult About 2024 Oscars Monologue: 'Isn't It Past Your Jail Time?'

"He's focused on the important stuff, for sure," the comedian said after the former president criticized his Academy Awards opening

Jimmy Kimmel had a question for Donald Trump at the 2024 Oscars: "Isn't it past your jail time?"

Before the 96th Annual Academy Awards broadcast wrapped on Sunday, the comedian paused the show to respond to some shade thrown his way by the former president earlier in the evening.

"Doing this show is not about me, and I appreciate you having me. It's really about you and Oscar and all these great actors and actresses and filmmakers," Kimmel said. "But I was told I had an extra minute and I'm really proud of something, and I was wondering if I could share it with you?"

The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star then read a post Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"I just go a review..." he said, before pulling up the post and quoting Trump. "Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars. His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be."

"Get rid of Kimmel and perhaps replace him with another washed up, but cheap, ABC 'talent,' George Slopanopoulos," continued Trump, referencing Good Morning America anchor George Stephanopoulos — who on Sunday interviewed Republican lawmaker Nancy Mace. "He would make everybody on stage look bigger, stronger, and more glamorous."

Related: 2024 Oscars Recap: From the Winners to All the Best Moments

Kimmel added a "blah blah blah" before reading off Trump's campaign slogan: "Make America Great Again."

"See if you can guess which former president just posted that on Truth Social? Anyone?" Kimmel asked.

His punchline elicited laughs from the star-studded crowd at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, including from Jodie Foster and Annette Bening, two of the evening's acting nominees.

"Well thank you, President Trump. Thank you for watching," Kimmel said."I'm surprised, isn't it past your jail time?"

"He's focused on the important stuff, for sure," Kimmel added.

Related: Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer Named Best Picture at 2024 Oscars in Impressive Awards Season Sweep

The dig was one of the only political comments made during the three-and-a-half hour ceremony, despite Trump claiming otherwise.

There were, however, focus on global conflicts like the war between Israel and Hamas, with many actors — including Mark Ruffalo, Ramy Youssef, Ava DuVernay, Eugene Lee Yang, Riz Ahmed and two-time Oscar winners Billie Eilish and Finneas — wearing a red pin representing Artists4Ceasefire, a collective of more than 400 artists who support a ceasefire in Gaza.

"We’re calling for immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We’re calling for peace and lasting justice for the people of Palestine," Youssef told Variety on the red carpet ahead of the show. "It’s a universal message of, ‘Let’s stop killing kids. Let’s not be part of more war.’ "

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The 96th Oscars, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, aired live Sunday from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.

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