Zoe Saldana slammed over Oscars 2025 jab at Trump that made Selena Gomez stand and applaud: 'So tiresome'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Zoe Saldana just made Oscars history - and threw a little shade while doing it.

The 'Guardians of the Galaxy' star took home her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress on Sunday night, March 2, for her role in 'Emilia Perez'. 

But while her speech was filled with gratitude, it also included what many perceived as a pointed jab at President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

Trump has drawn Hollywood's ire for his hardline immigration policies, declaring a national emergency at the border and pushing controversial policies such as the suspension of refugee admissions and the end of the migrant parole app.

Zoe Saldana's tearful tribute to family at Oscar 2025

Accepting the award from last year’s Best Supporting Actress winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph, a visibly emotional Zoe Saldana kicked things off with an emotional nod to her mother.

“Mami! Mami!” she called out, tears in her eyes. “My mom is here. My whole family is here. I am floored by this honor. Thank you to the academy for recognizing the quiet heroism and the power in a woman like Rita and talking about powerful women. My fellow nominees, the love and community that you have offered to me is a true gift, and I will pay it forward,” she said.

She then touched on her immigrant background.

“My grandmother came to this country in 1961. I am a proud child of immigrant parents. With dreams and dignity and hard working hands,” Saldana declared. “And I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award. And I know I will not be the last," she added.

The crowd erupted into applause. Saldana didn’t name Trump directly, but given his aggressive stance on immigration—including executive orders ending birthright citizenship and deploying military forces to the border—many took her words as a thinly-veiled response.

Selena Gomez wipes away tears at Zoe Saldana's Oscars speech

Saldana’s words clearly resonated with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Cameras caught Selena Gomez — who has been vocal about her own concerns over immigration policies — wiping away tears during the speech as she stood up and applauded.

Gomez’s reaction came just weeks after she shared a now-deleted Instagram video in which she broke down in tears over the treatment of undocumented immigrants.

“All my people are getting attacked, the children. I don’t understand. I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something, but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise,” she had said in the emotional clip.

Saldana’s win was a major moment for Emilia Perez - a genre-blending film that follows a feared Mexican drug lord who undergoes gender-affirming surgery and reinvents herself as Emilia Perez.

Saldana played Rita Castro, a down-on-her-luck lawyer hired to help facilitate the transition.

The film also made history with its lead actress Karla Sofia Gascon, who became the first openly transgender performer to receive an Academy Award nomination.

“The fact that I am getting an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish—my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted,” Saldana reflected onstage.

Not everyone was impressed by Zoe Saldana's Oscars speech

Many Oscars fans were tired of Saldana's constant reminders and tears about being an immigrant.

"This is so tiresome," one posted on X.

"Blah blah blah... So were lots of people. Come on in, legally and with merit and no one will stop you. We're still doing this? Really?" another wondered.

"Can’t stand the fake crying," a third user fumed.

"These people have no concept of how annoying and ridiculous they seem?" someone else asked.

"All about immigrant, Dominican, Spanish and the flag. Nothing about America. Sums it up," a comment read.

"It’s ok. I’m sure she will start to feel American at some point," another quipped.

It's worth noting that the Best Supporting Actress category was stacked this year, with Saldana competing against the likes of Jodie Foster ('Nyad'), Julianne Moore ('May December'), Emily Blunt ('Oppenheimer'), and Rosamund Pike ('Saltburn').

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