Rogen’s Trump Joke Vanishes from Broadcast

Seth Rogen’s joke about Donald Trump didn’t make it to air. During the 2025 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony—often called the Oscars of Science—Rogen went off script. He criticized President Trump and called out tech leaders, appearing to take aim at Elon Musk for supporting him.

Off-Script Moment

Rogen co-hosted the event alongside actor Edward Norton. After James Corden introduced the pair, Norton opened with praise for tech icons like Yuri Milner, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sergey Brin. Then, Rogen took the stage with a different tone.

The Joke That Got Cut

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rogen said:

“It’s amazing that others [who have been] in this room underwrote electing a man who, in the last week, single-handedly destroyed all of American science.”

He added:

“It’s amazing how much good science you can destroy with $320 million and RFK Jr, very fast.”

Mixed Reactions

With several major tech leaders in the audience, the joke didn’t land well. Norton, reportedly uncomfortable, followed up with, “I’d say that’s a smattering.”

Rogen also made a joke about physics prize winner Gerardus ‘t Hooft. That joke was also removed from the version of the ceremony uploaded to YouTube.

The Science Behind the Critique

Rogen’s remarks hinted at broader issues—specifically, Trump’s actions against scientific institutions. Under Trump, federal funding cuts impacted NOAA, NASA, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Programs related to COVID-19, climate change, and research grants all took hits, risking tens of thousands of jobs.

Why It Was Edited

A Breakthrough Prize Foundation spokesperson explained the decision. They said:

“This year’s ceremony lasted longer than the prior few years, and several edits were made in order to meet the originally planned run time.”

Still, many speculate that the true reason behind the cuts had more to do with discomfort than timing.