The two-time host isn’t holding back tonight.

Conan O’Brien makes jabs at Donald Trump, American pedophiles at 2026 Oscars

The two-time host isn't holding back tonight.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and NME.

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March 15, 2026 8:58 p.m. ET

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Conan O'Brien at the 2026 Oscars; Donald Trump. Credit:

Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty; Kevin Dietsch/Getty

Conan O’Brien isn’t afraid to get controversial at the 2026 Oscars.

The 62-year-old comedian made a jab at the existence of American pedophiles and, later, a reference to President Donald Trump on Sunday.

"It's the first time since 2012 that there are no British actors nominated for Best Actor or Best Actress,” O’Brien said during his opening monologue. “A British spokesperson said, 'Yeah, well, at least we arrest our pedophiles.' So, you got that going for you.”

Conan O'Brien during the 98th Annual Academy Awards.

Disney/Frank Micelotta

While the former *Tonight Show* host didn’t explicitly name anyone in his punchline, the joke appears to be a reference to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Feb. 19 arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office following the release of the Epstein files.

Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to the United States, was arrested on the same charges on Feb. 23. Neither has been charged and have previously denied any wrongdoing.

Multiple high-profile Americans are also referenced with the files — including Trump and former President Bill Clinton — but, similarly, no one involved stateside has officially been charged. Both Trump and Clinton have denied any wrongdoing, with Trump claiming that the files prove that he has been “totally exonerated.”

See all the celebrity looks at the 2026 Oscars

2026 Oscar winners announced: See the full list (updating live)

But O’Brien wasn’t done poking fun at Trump just yet, making another reference to the former *Apprentice* star when the Oscars returned from commercial break.

“Welcome back! We’re coming to you live from the Has a Small Penis Theater,” the host said. “Let’s see him put his name in front of that!”

The punchline appeared to be a reference to Trump’s ongoing interest in adding his name to historic buildings. In December, he renamed the Kennedy Center the Trump Kennedy Center and did the same to the U.S. Institute of Peace, renaming it the Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace.

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Last month, NBC News reported that the Trump administration had asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to rename New York City’s Penn Station and Washington Dulles International Airport in the president’s honor in exchange for releasing federal funds.

Conan O'Brien during the 98th Annual Academy Awards.

Disney/Frank Micelotta

Trump later denied that he asked for Penn Station’s name to be changed to honor himself, writing on Truth Social that the idea “was brought up by certain politicians and construction union heads, not me.”

Somehow, we get the feeling he may not want to continue his tradition of putting his name at the front of O'Brien's fictional theater. In actuality, the Oscars are being held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles.

The 2026 Oscars are airing now on ABC. Check out the full list of winners here.

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Source: “EW Academy”