AT A GLANCE
- President Donald Trump is threatening to sue comedian Trevor Noah over a joke made during the 2026 Grammy Awards.
- Trump called the joke referencing Jeffrey Epstein’s island “false and defamatory,” insisting he has never visited the island.
- The comment was made during Noah’s opening monologue while joking about Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland.
- As of now, no lawsuit has been filed.
President Donald Trump Called the Joke Made at Sunday Night’s Grammy Awards “False and Defamatory”
Donald Trump is threatening to sue comedian Trevor Noah over a joke Noah made while hosting Sunday night’s Grammy Awards, calling the remark “false and defamatory” in an overnight post on Truth Social.
Noah, serving as master of ceremonies for the awards show, made a crack referencing Trump’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein while also joking about Trump’s repeated interest in the United States taking control of Greenland. “That is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” Noah said. “Which makes sense, I mean, because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out on with Bill Clinton.”
Trump responded hours later, insisting he has never visited Epstein’s private island or anywhere near it. In his post, Trump said that until Noah’s comment, he had never been accused of being there, “not even by the Fake News Media.” He also emphasized that Epstein had previously denied claims that former President Bill Clinton ever visited the island.
The president went on to personally attack Noah, writing that the comedian “better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast,” and suggesting he would instruct his lawyers to sue Noah for damages. Trump described Noah as “pathetic” and “talentless,” adding, “Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!”
Epstein’s island in the Caribbean has long been associated with allegations of sexual abuse involving women and underage girls. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Trump has previously said he rejected Epstein’s invitation to visit the island and that the two had a falling out years before Epstein’s death. Trump has also claimed he banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club after Epstein “took people that worked for me.”
Neither Trump nor Clinton has ever been charged in connection with Epstein, and both have denied any wrongdoing.
Representatives for Noah’s agency and management did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Clinton also did not immediately respond.
Trump has a long history of threatening or pursuing lawsuits against media organizations and public figures over coverage he views as unfavorable. In his Truth Social post, he pointed to past legal battles with ABC News and CBS News, both of which ultimately resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements.
The exchange unfolded during a Grammy Awards ceremony that featured pointed political commentary throughout the night. Several artists used their acceptance speeches to criticize Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the administration’s aggressive deportation policies, while others wore “ICE OUT” pins in protest. Awards show hosts have long used the platform to joke about politics, but Noah’s line appears to have struck a particularly raw nerve with the president.
As of now, no lawsuit has been filed.
