Jimmy Kimmel on America’s State at Oscars

During a red carpet interview at the 2026 Oscars, Jimmy Kimmel expressed strong feelings about the current state of the country, saying, “We live in a hell of a country,” while also maintaining a sense of hope.

When asked if he felt worn out by global issues, he quickly replied, “Yes, of course I am. It’s ridiculous. We live in a ridiculous country.” He added, “We’ve always lived in a silly country, but always in a fun way. Now, it feels like we face a different kind of absurdity.”

Kimmel reassured that he wasn’t scared, saying, “No, I’m not,” but emphasized that he remains hopeful.

His comments seemed to reflect the ongoing political discourse that often arises in Hollywood, particularly from those who have voiced concerns about certain U.S. immigration policies under the Trump administration.

Additionally, Kimmel criticized CBS for canceling all of Stephen Colbert’s shows that were supposed to feature the best documentary at the Oscars. He commented on the notion of courage in storytelling, stating, “You hear a lot about courage on shows like this, but true courage often involves risking your life to tell a story. Some countries don’t support free speech. I’ll leave that to North Korea and CBS.”

Interestingly, Kimmel himself faced scrutiny last September after he inaccurately suggested links between a Charlie Kirk assassination suspect and a “MAGA gang” and mocked former President Trump over a response related to the incident.

Oscar host Conan O’Brien made headlines as well, taking a jab during the event about an alternative awards show purportedly hosted by Kid Rock. This served as a pointed commentary on how Hollywood sometimes reacts to dissenters challenging prevailing norms.