Despite being one of the longest-running annual shows in recent history, the 97th Academy Awards featured noticeably fewer mentions of the current political climate than expected, with not a single mention of “Donald Trump”.

Awards shows have historically been a platform for discussing world events, with Trump himself having commented on such events. This year, however, marked a departure from this trend.

In the past, political and social issues have been highlighted during awards ceremonies. Following the 2017 Oscars mistake in announcing the best picture winner, Trump criticized the event, suggesting it was overshadowed by a focus on politics.

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several awards shows featured appearances and messages of support from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, indicating a significant level of political engagement in the past.

The recent meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump to discuss ceasefire talks, which was met with criticism due to the perceived hostility from both parties, seemed to have had little impact on the tone of this year’s awards show.

This year’s host, Conan O’Brien, momentarily addressed the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, highlighting the contrast with previous years’ political discussions. He emphasized the importance of the behind-the-scenes individuals who contribute to filmmaking.

The show largely avoided political topics beyond the wildfires, with minimal references to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the crisis in Gaza, despite these events being significantly impactful on a global scale.

Few mentions of political or global crises during the ceremony stood in stark contrast to the highly politicized subjects of several nominated films, including those addressing the Holocaust, immigrants’ journeys, and the transition of a trans woman.

Notably, No Other Land, a documentary about the destruction of a Palestinian community by Israeli forces, won the Oscar for Best Documentary but struggled to find distribution in the US, highlighting issues of censorship.

The documentary’s award acceptance speech acknowledged the harsh realities faced by Palestinians, emphasizing the need for serious action to address the injustice and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.

Previously, awards shows had featured more direct support for Gaza through both verbal endorsements and the use of symbolic accessories. The shift in this year’s approach to addressing political issues has been marked.

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