U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened legal action against comedian Trevor Noah following remarks Noah made during his opening monologue at the 2026 Grammy Awards, escalating a controversy that has blended politics, satire, and entertainment into a high-profile public clash.
The dispute centers on a joke Noah made referencing the Jeffrey Epstein files, a subject that has remained in the public spotlight amid renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s past associations with powerful figures.
While hosting the Grammys, Noah made a quip linking Trump to Epstein in a satirical aside that drew laughter from the audience inside Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.
The joke, delivered as part of a wider monologue touching on politics and pop culture, quickly became one of the most discussed moments of the night.
Within hours of the broadcast, Trump responded forcefully, accusing Noah of spreading false and defamatory claims.
Turning his ire toward Trevor Noah, Trump labeled him a “total loser” — a common insult the ex-president has used against critics — and challenged the accuracy of the Epstein joke. Trump insisted:
“I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory statement… have never been accused of being there, not even by the Fake News Media.”
Trump then didn’t stop at criticism. He issued what sounded like a threat of legal action, writing:
“Noah… better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast. It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C.… Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!”
Trump went on to label the Grammy Awards “virtually unwatchable” and described the ceremony as “the worst,” before directing his criticism squarely at Noah. Calling the comedian a “total loser,” Trump warned that Noah should “get his facts straight,” and suggested that lawyers could soon be involved, writing that it “looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers.”
The Epstein-related joke was not the only political moment in Noah’s monologue. Earlier, the host also took a swipe at Nicki Minaj, who has recently expressed public support for Trump.
Referencing Minaj’s absence from the ceremony, Noah joked that she was “still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues,” delivering the line with a Trump impersonation that drew applause and laughter from the audience.
While the Minaj joke fueled online debate, it was the Epstein reference that prompted Trump’s strongest reaction and legal threat.
Supporters of the former president echoed his criticism, arguing that the joke crossed a line by implying criminal behavior.
In recent years, ceremonies such as the Grammys have increasingly served as platforms for political humor and commentary — a trend that continues to divide audiences.
Trump has long criticized Hollywood institutions, frequently accusing them of political bias and hostility toward him.