Oscars stand up to Trump with nominations for two transgender films for 21 awards following criticism of president’s gender policy by Hollywood influencers

The Oscars have entered into conflict with President Donald Trump by selecting a transgender actor for an acting nomination and two transgender-themed films for 21 nominations shortly after he approved a law stating that the US would only recognize two genders.

Karla Sofia Gascon has made history as the first transgender actor to be nominated for an Oscar, recognized in the category of Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Emilia Pérez.

Emilia Pérez, a musical crime drama depicting the story of a Mexican drug lord undergoing a gender transition, has received an impressive total of 13 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Tackling similar themes of gender identity, the political drama Conclave – which is about scheming cardinals deciding who to elect as the next pope – picked up a total of eight nominations, including Best Film, Best Director. 

The Academy appeared to doubled down on its anti-Trump crusade by including the Trump biopic The Apprentice – which features a controversial scene in which he rapes his first wife Ivana – in its nominations. Trump has called those involved with the film ‘human scum’ and dismissed the project as a ‘disgusting hatchet job’. 

The President sparked a wave of backlash from members of the LGBTQ community this week after signing an executive order that redefines gender in the US.

Gascon openly condemned the law, branding it ‘shameless’, while other opponents of the legislation launched a cruel campaign of mockery against Caitlyn Jenner – a longtime Republican and one of the most famous trans women in the world.

The hatred towards Jenner was swift, with many people referring to her by her dead name ‘Bruce’ and calling her a hypocrite for supporting a man who is so opposed to her community.

The Academy has nominated Emilia Pérez, a musical crime drama focusing on a Mexican drug lord and his transition from male to female, for an astonishing 13 Oscars

Tackling similar themes of gender identity, the Edward Berger directed political drama Conclave picked up a total of eight nominations

The Academy appeared to doubled down on its anti-Trump crusade by including the Trump biopic The Apprentice – which features a controversial marital rape scene – in its nominations. Trump has called those involved with the film ‘human scum’ and dismissed the project as a ‘disgusting hatchet job’

Trump has vowed to transform the ‘troubled’ ailing film industry over the next four years and bring back its early to mid-twentieth century Golden Age.

But the Oscars nominations have demonstrated that this year’s awards season is going to be an unrelenting succession of grandstanding by Hollywood wokerati.

The Academy sent Trump a direct message Thursday by nominating a trans star for an acting award for the first time ever – after that very performer condemned his new legislation.

Gascon has actively expressed her opposition of Trump, claiming his Administration will bring America ‘backwards’ and ‘erode the little tolerance we have’.

Although she has publicly slammed Trump, Gascon has claimed she wants the narrative surrounding her historic Oscars nomination to be about her performance in Emilia Perez – not her gender identity.

‘It’s time to focus on my performance and move beyond labels like ethnicity, sexuality, or hair color,’ she said of her nomination Thursday, The Statesman reported. ‘Art transcends hate. My work speaks for itself.’ 

However, last year filed a lawsuit against conservative French politician Marion Maréchal after he criticized her winning a best actress award at Cannes Film Festival.

‘A man has won best actress. Progress for the left means the erasure of women and mothers,’ Maréchal quipped after her win, prompting Gascon to file a legal complaint for ‘sexist insult on the basis of gender identity’.

Gascon was also nominated for a Golden Globe, Screen Actors’ Guild award, and BAFTA for her work in Emilia Perez. During her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, she condemned intolerance and pillared a message of hope to the LGBTQ community: ‘The light always wins over darkness.’

Trump on his first day back in office signed an executive order ruling the federal government to define sex as only male or female

The Academy again demonstrated its disapproval of Trump’s law by putting director Edward Berger’s film Conclave forward for eight awards. 

Conclave has sparked outrage among the Catholic church, with the former prefect for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith last week branding it ‘anti-Christian propaganda’ that he says could have been produced ‘in the time of Hitler or Stalin’.

‘I’ve seen some clips and read some reviews and that is enough for me,’ Cardinal Gerhard Müller said of the film, according to the National Catholic Register.

He said the plot revealing a Cardinal to be an ‘intersexual person’ was ‘stupid, ridiculous, and idiotic’ and claims it ‘shows more their own corruption – that of the film’s producers – than the Church’.

Other clergy have also spoken out against the film, urging Catholics not to see it and claiming it ‘checks every woke box’.

But Ralph Fiennes, who starred in Conclave as Cardinal Lawrence, has said he is ‘thrilled’ to see the film put forward for Oscars. He received a best actor nomination for his role in the film. 

‘I’m thrilled to be nominated and to be celebrating the other nominations for Conclave,’ Fiennes said. ‘Edward Berger brought an extraordinary cast and crew together – he is an inspirational director with rare insight and a unique vision which lies at the heart of this film.’

Transgender musical drama Emilia Pérez is far from the Hollywood ideal Trump had in mind before his inauguration in Washington DC on Monday, yet it received a total of 13 nominations

Conclave, a film about scheming cardinals deciding who to elect as the next pope, was branded by leaders of the Catholic church as ‘anti-Christian propaganda’ that also ‘checks every woke box’. Pictured is Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence

The Academy also appeared to directly snub Trump by including The Apprentice – which has been one of the bigger awards season question marks, especially after it failed to resonate with moviegoers in theaters – in its nominations.

Leading man Sebastian Stan earned a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of young Trump during his formative years in New York City real estate.

Succession star Jeremy Strong also secured a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as controversial NYC lawyer Roy Cohn, a Trump confidante and mentor before his death to AIDS in 1986.

But Trump is not pleased with the film or his portrayal in it. Last year, a lawyer for the President sent a cease-and-desist letter to the filmmakers behind the movie.

‘The Movie presents itself as a factual biography of Mr. Trump, yet nothing could be further from the truth,’ the letter from Trump attorney David Warrington said, per The Hill.

Director Ali Abassi revealed his intentions behind telling Trump’s story at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024.

‘I think in the time of turmoil you know, there’s this tendency to look inwards, to sort of bury your head deep in the sand, and look inside, and hope for the best and hope for the storm to get away,’ Abbasi told Variety at the time.

‘But the storm is not going to get away,’ he continued. ‘The storm is coming, actually. The worst times are to come.

‘When we did this movie, everyone said, “Why do you want to make a movie with Trump? You know, if you want to tell something about the world, do it in a nice way, in a metaphorical way.”

‘There is no nice, metaphorical way to deal with the rising wave of fascism.’ 

Leading man Sebastian Stan, pictured in The Apprentice, earned a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of young Trump

Below the photo, the yearbook caption reads: ‘Most likely to be in the bathroom combing his hair when he receives his first Oscar’

Trump on his first day back in office signed an executive order ruling the federal government to define sex as only male or female.

The order declares that there are just two sexes and rejects that people can transition from one gender to another or be considered something other than male or female such as nonbinary or intersex.

The order calls for passports, visas and Global Entry cards to reflect the administration’s definition of sexes. It also calls for the definition to be reflected in policies such as federal prison assignments.

Trump also rescinded an order from the administration of former Democratic President Joe Biden that allowed transgender people to serve in the military. 

Although the order has been signed, much of it requires more federal action. Trump’s executive order tells one White House staff member to draft a bill for Congress within 30 days that would codify the definitions into law.

Federal agencies must tell the president within 120 days what they’ve done to comply with the order. Some parts might require going through the regulatory process or passing new laws.

Jenner is pictured with Trump at the welcome party for the LIV Golf Invitational in New York City on July 27, 2022

Trump quickly made good on his pledge to sever diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the federal government by laying off all DEI hires within 24 hours.

He signed an order calling for the elimination of government diversity programs, including the ending of all federal offices and jobs related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). 

The executive action calls for the termination of DEI programs, mandates, policies, preferences and activities in the federal government along with the review and revision of existing federal employment practices, union contracts and training policies or programs.

Agency, department and commission heads have 60 days to terminate to the maximum extent allowed by law all DEI, DEIA and ‘environmental justice’ offices and positions, action plans, equity-related grants or contracts as well as end all DEI or DEIA performance requirements.

It also targets federal contractors who have provided DEI training or materials, and grantees who received federal funding to provide or advance DEI programs, services or activities since Biden took office in 2021.