Comedian Jimmy Kimmel called President Trump racist during the opening monologue of the Academy Awards on Sunday night, thanking him for taking the heat off the Oscars.

Kimmel thanked Trump for changing the topic.

"Remember last year when it seemed like the Oscars were racist?" Kimmel said to laughs. "It's fine, thanks to him."

Kimmel added that he didn't want to get too serious and that he's not the man who's going to unite the United States during his gig as hosting the awards show Sunday, but encouraged everyone watching to have friendly conversations with others.

"I'm not the man to unite this country, but it can be done," he said. "There are millions and millions of people watching this right now and if you all took a minute to reach out to someone you disagree with to have a conversation, not as conservatives or as liberals, but Americans (it would help)."