President Donald Trump vowed legal action against comedian Trevor Noah after a joke at the 2026 Grammy Awards that linked Trump to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump called Noah a “total loser” and said he plans to sue the host for defamation.
In a post early Monday on his Truth Social platform, Trump rejected Noah’s comments and denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island. “Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island,” he wrote. “WRONG!!! I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close.”
Trump called Noah “a poor, pathetic, talentless dope of an M.C.” and added, “It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless dope of an M.C., and suing him for plenty$.” He later said, “Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!”
Noah, a South African comedian who hosted The Daily Show and was serving his sixth and final year as Grammy host, delivered the joke after Billie Eilish won Song of the Year. “That is a Grammy that every artist wants — almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” Noah said during his broadcast monologue. “Which makes sense because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.”
The line drew laughs from the audience but immediate backlash from Trump. The former president was quick to label the entire awards show “virtually unwatchable.” He also criticized CBS, the network airing the show, saying the network was “lucky not to have this garbage litter their airwaves any longer.”
Clash of Politics and Pop Culture
Noah’s joke came on a night where several artists used the stage to voice political opinions. Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny called out U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while Olivia Dean honored her immigrant heritage in her acceptance speech. Many performers wore “ICE OUT” pins, signaling opposition to Trump-era immigration policy.
Trump has a long record of clashing with entertainers and media figures. He has sued or threatened legal action against news outlets including ABC and BBC, and has feuded with late-night hosts such as Jimmy Kimmel. In his Truth Social post, Trump compared Noah unfavorably to Kimmel, referring to him as “almost as bad” as the late-night comedian.
Legal experts say that for Trump to succeed in a defamation claim, he would need to show that Noah’s comments were false statements presented as fact and made with actual malice. Many comedy routines rely on hyperbole and satire, which are typically protected under U.S. free speech laws.
Noah’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment late Monday. As tensions between politics and entertainment play out on national stages, the coming weeks are likely to bring additional scrutiny to how public figures and comedians engage with sensitive topics.