Academy Awards host Jimmy Kimmel slams Donald Trump as dozens of stars protest travel ban in ‘the most political Oscars ever’

COMEDIAN Jimmy Kimmel did not hold back as he ripped into Donald Trump and the political division in the US as he hosted the 89th Academy Awards on Sunday evening.

Opening the show, he thanked the US president for making the Oscars appear less racist in light of last year's #OscarsSoWhite controversy, saying:  "Remember last year when it seemed like the Oscars were racist?"

In his sarcasm-laden speech, Kimmel, 49, who was hosting the ceremony for the first time, said the ceremony was being watched around the world by "countries that now hate us" admitting he knew the country was divided and had been encouraged to say something that would unite people.

He said: "There are millions and millions of people watching right now, and if every one of you took a minute to reach out to one person you disagree with and have a positive, considerate conversation – not as liberals or conservatives but as Americans – if we all did that it would make America great again. It starts with us."

He continued to poke fun at Trump and his administration throughout the ceremony by referencing Trump's obsession with "fake news".

The host even went as far as to tweet the President during the ceremony, with his tweet reaching over 130,000 retweets in less than three minutes.

Kimmel wrote: "Hey @realdonaldtrump u up?"

Before adding: "@realdonaldtrump #Merylsayshi"

Addressing potential award winners, Kimmel said: "Some of you will get to come up here tonight and give a speech that the president will tweet about in all caps during his 5am bowel movement."

Kimmel wasn't the only one to have spoken out against Donald Trump  - actors, directors and designers all gave political acceptance speeches.

Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, boycotted the Oscars in protest of Trump's travel ban, issued a statement after winning Best Foreign Language Film for The Salesman.

In his statement, Farhadi said: "I'm sorry I'm not with you tonight. My absence is out of respect for the people of my country, and those of [the] other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S. Dividing the world into the 'us' and 'our enemies' categories creates fear – a deceitful justification for aggression and war. These wars prevent democracy and human rights in countries which have themselves been victims of aggression.

"Filmmakers can turn their cameras to capture shared human qualities and break stereotypes of various nationalities and religions. They create empathy between us and others, an empathy which we need today more than ever."

Zootopia co-director Rich Moore onstage also had something to say about tolerance after the Disney pic snagged the Best Animated Feature at tonight’s Academy Awards.

He said: “We are so grateful to the audiences all over the world that embraced this film with this story of tolerance being more powerful than fear of the other."

Moonlight director Barry Jenkins said after winning an Oscar for adapted screenplay: "All you people who feel like there's no mirror for you... we have your back."

Italian make up artist Alessandro Bertolazzi also dedicated his Oscar win to "all the immigrants".

To keep things light-hearted, Kimmel continued his fake fued with Matt Damon after he tweeted a picture of Damon at the ceremony with the caption: "Dead man walking the red carpet."

The pair have had a long-standing feud that dates back many years and was sparked when Kimmel started signing off his popular American talk show saying: "Apologies to Matt Damon, we ran out of time."

Asked if he thought Kimmel was going to take aim at him during the ceremony, Damon told E! News: "It's going to probably be ugly."

He then jokingly added that despite "couples therapy", the pair hadn't sorted things out, saying: "Maybe tonight is our night."

Comedian Sarah Silverman, who used to date Kimmel, made a video with Damon in 2008 as a joke, during which she told Kimmel the pair were having an affair.

Kimmel followed it up by teaming up with Damon's best friend, actor Ben Affleck, to produce a video of their own.

Viewers began tweeting after Jimmy fired his first jokes with one tweeting: "Best host yet? #jimmykimmel is killin' it!!"

Another wrote: "So far Jimmy Kimmel is doing well. Very  funny. I'm flashing back to him on Comedy Central. Way to sustain your weight loss man."

While one fan agreed: "Can we all agree @jimmykimmel is doing an amazing hosting job of the #oscars ?? So far on par like Ellen!! Good job Jimmy #jimmykimmel."

But some viewers did not enjoy the jokes as one wrote: "Jimmy Kimmel isn't funny."

Kimmel also took some time to sing the praises of Meryl Streep — after Trump referred to her as "overrated" after she criticised him during her Golden Globes.

Turning to the actress, Kimmel joked: "Of all the great actors in Hollywood, one in particular has stood the test of time for her many uninspiring and overrated performances.

"May I say from her mediocre early work in The Deer Hunter and Out Of Africa to her underwhelming performances in Kramer Vs Kramer and Sophie's Choice, Meryl Streep has phoned it in for over 50 films over the course of her lacklustre career.

"Meryl, stand up if you would, please join me in giving Meryl a totally undeserved round of applause.

At the end of his monologue, he pointed at her and stated, "The highly overrated Meryl Streep everyone. Nice dress by the way - is that an Ivanka?"

The audience couldn't help but laugh at the not-so subtle reference to first daughter Ivanka Trump's clothing range.

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