'Stupidest': Trump Mocked for Bashing 'Oscars' as 'Less Elegant Name' than Academy Awards

Former President Donald Trump faced online backlash on Monday after he criticized the 2021 Oscars for being "so politically correct and boring."

In a statement, Trump condemned the Oscars for promoting the Democratic Party and having a "far less important and elegant name" than the Academy Awards.

"What used to be called The Academy Awards, and now is called the 'Oscars'—a far less important and elegant name—had the lowest Television Ratings in recorded history, even much lower than last year, which set another record low," he wrote.

On Tuesday, Nielsen data showed that the Oscars telecast on ABC drew in an average of 10.4 million viewers, a record low. The figure was less than half of last year's audience.

"If they keep with the current ridiculous formula, it will only get worse—if that's possible," Trump continued. "Go back 15 years, look at the formula they used, change the name back to THE ACADEMY AWARDS, don't be so politically correct and boring, and do it right."

He added: "ALSO, BRING BACK A GREAT HOST. These television people spend all their time thinking about how to promote the Democrat Party, which is destroying our Country, and cancel Conservatives and Republicans. That formula certainly hasn't worked very well for The Academy!"

Critics immediately took to Twitter to condemn Trump's remarks.

Naval War College Professor Tom Nichols tweeted, "I will never stop laughing when Trump says stuff like 'now called the Oscars'—which is what they've been called since at least the late 1930s. He is genuinely the stupidest and most narcissistic man ever to soil American public life."

"I appreciate the consistency of Don Trump when it comes to the Oscars. That dude would never attend a wokefest of Hollywood elites and I respect that," podcaster and sports author Richard Deitsch wrote, alongside an image of the ex-president and Melania Trump attending a previous ceremony.

John R. Eakin, a former data officer for the Republican Party of Texas, tweeted, "Donald Trump cares about the Oscars more than 99% of Americans, and 100% of his base. That's how down to earth and relatable he is. Speaking on behalf of the 1%."

"Trump thinking the academy awards were officially renamed the 'oscars' is so f***ing funny," tweeted @Izydeen.

@laurasteele64 tweeted, "It's bizarre what did the awards show formally known as the academy awards now the oscars do to trump to warrant this? Did they turn down his bed bug ridden Florida resort for hosting the awards?"

"Glad to see Trump took 2 days to really think about the oscars," tweeted policy advisor Kathleen O'Nline.

@at_howard tweeted, "The former president of the United States, bravely, courageously, took the time to drop everything he was doing to ... troll the Oscars. Now THAT'S leadership. Also who's going to break it to Trump that it's been called the Oscars for MANY decades. I know it upsets him though..."

Newsweek reached out to Trump representatives for comment. This story will be updated with any response.