Hey movie buffs Oscar night happened and something was a bit different this year. Usually the Academy Awards are a stage for speeches about big issues right? Well not so much this time. Politics especially anything about Donald Trump were mostly off the table. Did you notice? Let's get into why the 2025 Oscars felt surprisingly apolitical.
Conan O'Brien Hosts and Keeps it Light (Mostly): A Few Jokes But No Major Political Statements
Conan O'Brien hosted the show and he's known for being funny and self-deprecating. He did a solid job keeping things light. In his monologue Conan joked about Hollywood and the movies themselves. He roasted the Best Picture nominees in a good-natured way. For example he had a funny line about Conclave a movie about the Catholic Church saying “Its logline is: A movie about the Catholic Church but do not worry.”
Conan did get close to politics one time with a joke about Anora the movie that won big. He mentioned a scene where the main character stands up to a powerful Russian family. Conan quipped “I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian.” It was a subtle nod to current events but he never actually said Trump's name or got into heavy political stuff.
For his opening monologue and throughout the night Conan generally avoided Washington DC. He focused on Hollywood movies and keeping the mood upbeat. It was a different vibe from some past Oscars ceremonies.
Subtle Nods and a Powerful Documentary Speech: The Few Political Moments That Broke Through
While Conan kept things light there were a few moments where politics peeked through. Daryl Hannah when presenting an award simply said “Slava Ukraine!” It was a quick but clear message of support. Zoe Saldaña in her acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress mentioned being a “proud child of immigrant parents.” This was seen as a subtle hint at the immigration debates happening now.
"No Other Land" Wins Best Documentary and Delivers the Night's Strongest Political Message
The most political moment by far was the Best Documentary Feature award. It went to No Other Land a film about Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes. When the filmmakers accepted the Oscar they did not hold back.
Basel Adra a Palestinian activist and filmmaker called "on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.” His words were powerful and direct.
Yuval Abraham an Israeli journalist and co-director also spoke. He mentioned believing in a political solution that includes rights “for both of our people.” But then he added a strong statement about US foreign policy. Abraham said “I have to say as I am here the foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path.” This was a clear criticism of the US government’s role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The audience reaction was notable. They gave the filmmakers a standing ovation showing support for their film and their message. This documentary win and speech became the most talked-about political moment of the entire Oscars broadcast.
A Shift from Previous Years? Oscars Tone Down the Politics Compared to Past Shows
This year's Oscars felt different from recent awards shows. In the past we have seen more open political statements and even protests. For example presenters and winners at the Golden Globes and Grammys mostly avoided politics too. This is a change from a few years back when awards shows often included direct political speeches and jokes especially related to Donald Trump.
Think back to other awards ceremonies. After Russia invaded Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy even appeared via video at Cannes Venice and the Grammys to ask for support. This year felt much quieter on the political front.
Why the Silence? Speculating on the Reasons Behind the Apolitical Oscars
Why were the Oscars so apolitical this year? There are a few ideas. Maybe there's a “chill in the political air” as some have said. Perhaps Hollywood is sensing a shift in mood and decided to avoid controversy. It is also possible that awards show organizers just wanted to focus on celebrating movies and entertainment for a change.
Another thought is maybe award shows realize that millionaires in fancy clothes are not always the best people to deliver political messages. People might tune into the Oscars for movie stars not political speeches.
It is interesting though because some of the nominated movies themselves were actually quite political. The Apprentice for example is a movie about Donald Trump himself and Sebastian Stan was even nominated for playing Trump. No Other Land the documentary winner is deeply political by its very nature. So politics were present in the films but mostly absent from the awards ceremony itself.
Key Political Moments (or Lack Thereof) at the 2025 Oscars: A Quick List
- Conan O'Brien's "Anora" Joke: Subtle Putin reference but avoided direct Trump talk.
- Daryl Hannah's "Slava Ukraine!": Brief but clear support for Ukraine.
- Zoe Saldaña's Immigrant Parents Line: Hinted at immigration issues.
- "No Other Land" Documentary Win and Speech: Strongest political statement condemning Israeli actions and US foreign policy.
- Overall Apolitical Tone: General avoidance of political topics compared to previous Oscars.
A New Trend? Will Future Awards Shows Continue to Steer Clear of Politics?
So the 2025 Oscars were surprisingly quiet on the political front except for that powerful documentary speech. Is this a new trend? Will future awards shows follow suit and focus more on entertainment than political commentary? It remains to be seen. But this year's Academy Awards certainly marked a shift. Whether it is a temporary blip or a longer-term change we will have to wait and see what future awards seasons bring. For now the 2025 Oscars will be remembered as the year Hollywood mostly decided to keep politics off the stage and let the movies take center stage instead.