In a divided country, the one constant is Trump’s ubiquity. Even in sports or entertainment, President Trump’s presence lurks. He’s so entrenched in the minds of the celebrity community—a group that roundly rejects him—that Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel tried to get a rise out of Trump by tweeting at him in the middle of the show.
The tweets were meant as pointed nod to Trump’s small-mindedness. They ostensibly implied that Trump was glued to his TV, waiting to combat Hollywood’s next insult like a petulant adolescent. But Kimmel’s gag had the reverse effect. It implied that Hollywood yearns for Trump’s recognition more than the other way around. Despite the voluminous material Trump provides, they still beg for more. Kimmel is obviously a world-class agitator. But in that moment, he seemed like the archetype for all Americans.
