Late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel sparked laughs during his February 2 monologue by saying he would force his way into hosting the Academy Awards in 2027—but only if the documentary Melania earns a Best Documentary nomination.
Speaking to a cheering audience, Kimmel joked that if the film made it onto the Oscars ballot, he would personally ensure he was the host, “whether they ask me to or not.”
Mocking Fox News Praise and Rotten Tomatoes Scores
Kimmel’s remarks were aimed at Kayleigh McEnany, who had reacted enthusiastically on Fox News to the film’s stronger-than-expected opening weekend.
McEnany suggested the documentary deserved Oscar consideration and added that Melania Trump would easily outshine everyone on the red carpet.
Taking aim at the praise, Kimmel quipped that while Melania holds just a 7% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it enjoys a “perfect 100%” approval rating on Fox News.
Kimmel’s Longstanding Criticism of the Documentary
Before the film’s theatrical release, Kimmel had already taken shots at it on Jimmy Kimmel Live, calling it a “$75 million bribe” allegedly produced by Amazon.
The documentary chronicles Melania Trump’s life during the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration.
After Melania earned about $7 million in its opening weekend, Kimmel mocked the result as a bizarre milestone, joking that it marked the biggest debut in a decade for what he described as a “non-musical vanity project and corporate favor.”
Kimmel’s Oscars History and Onstage Trump Feud
Kimmel most recently hosted the Oscars in 2024, marking his fourth time as emcee. He did not host the following year, when Conan O’Brien stepped in—a role O’Brien is set to reprise at the 2026 ceremony.
During the 2024 broadcast, Kimmel made headlines by directly addressing Trump’s criticism mid-show. Just before Al Pacino presented the Best Picture award, Kimmel paused the ceremony to read aloud a lengthy post from Trump on TruthSocial.
In the post, Trump blasted Kimmel as the worst Oscars host ever and sarcastically suggested replacing him with George Stephanopoulos. Kimmel responded onstage with a deadpan joke, thanking Trump for watching and adding a jab about whether it was past his “jail time.”
Jimmy Kimmel’s comments about Melania are less about Oscar logistics and more about his trademark political satire. By blending pop culture, media criticism, and pointed humor, Kimmel once again positioned himself at the center of the entertainment–politics crossover.
Whether Melania ever lands an Academy Award nomination remains uncertain, but Kimmel’s joke reinforces his willingness to turn even hypothetical scenarios into headline-making moments—especially when Donald Trump and cable news are involved.
Originally posted 2026-02-02 01:27:45.