Conan O’Brien had the opportunity to make a lot of jokes while hosting the 97th Academy Awards last night, but the one that may have gotten the most attention was the shade he tossed at Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Last week, Trump and Vice President JD Vance gave Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a public dressing down in the Oval Office, much to the surprise of the watching world. Zelenskyy had been called to the White House on February 28 for negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement that would bring an end to the war that Russia began when it invaded Ukraine in 2022.
However, the debate between world leaders devolved into chaos in front of the press cameras, with Trump and Vance appearing to have no sympathy for Zelenskyy’s determination to defend his besieged country for over three years, and unwilling to agree that the fight should continue until Vladimir Putin withdraws his troops. On the contrary, Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War III.”
Trump lost his temper and said, “You’re in no position to determine how we’ll feel. We’re going to feel great. We’ll feel incredibly good and strong. You are currently not in a favorable situation; you have allowed yourself to be in a bad position. “You do not have the cards right now. With us, you’ll have cards… You are playing with millions of people’s lives! You’re betting on World War Three! You’re gambling on World War III. And what you’re doing is extremely demeaning to the country, namely this country.”
Needless to say, the back-and-forth between Zelenskyy and Trump became heated, with JD Vance occasionally fueling the flames with superfluous commentary, and the Ukrainian president and his delegates left Washington shortly after the debate. What happens next is anyone’s guess, but the spectacle in the Oval Office has undoubtedly become the world’s biggest news story.
This year’s Oscars were held in the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles yesterday, Sunday, March 2. The event’s hosts have never shied away from addressing politics and cracking jokes about individuals who make headlines. Conan O’Brien, a comedian and talk-show host, had the distinction of presenting last night, and he made it clear how he felt about the aforementioned heated conversation between Zelenskyy and Trump.
Midway through the evening, the emcee mentioned Anora’s triumph at the Oscars, saying, “Anora’s doing great tonight.” Two awards. “I believe Americans are finally ready for someone to confront a powerful Russian.” Conan’s undeniable jibe echoes the sentiments of many Americans who believe that, rather than standing up to Vladimir Putin, Trump is simply doing the Russian leader’s bidding by attempting to force Zelenskyy and Ukraine to accept a deal that would result in them losing land that thousands of them have died fighting for. One thing is certain: the sole winner from last week’s ridiculous argument in the Oval Office was undoubtedly Putin himself.