President Donald Trump has threatened to sue comedian Trevor Noah, host of the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, after Noah made a pointed joke linking Trump to the late Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous private island during the ceremony on Sunday night.
The South African-born comedian, hosting the Grammys for the fourth time, delivered the quip while presenting the Song of the Year category. “Song of the Year — that is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton,” Noah said, drawing laughs from the audience at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Trump, who has repeatedly denied any involvement with Epstein’s activities and insists he never visited the financier’s Caribbean island, fired back on his social media platform Truth Social early Monday morning. In a lengthy post, the president described the Grammys as “the worst” and “virtually unwatchable,” before turning his ire directly to Noah.
“Noah, a total loser, 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., and suing him for plenty$,” Trump wrote. He added, “Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!”
The president’s response echoed similar threats he has made against media figures and comedians in the past, often citing defamation. Legal experts note that public figures like Trump face a high bar for proving defamation under U.S. law, requiring evidence of actual malice. Noah’s representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The joke references Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, became synonymous with allegations of abuse involving high-profile individuals. Trump has acknowledged knowing Epstein socially but has distanced himself from the scandal, stating he banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago resort after learning of his behavior.
This incident adds to a night already marked by political undertones at the Grammys, where several artists, including Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish, criticized Trump’s immigration policies during their acceptance speeches. Trump also lambasted the ceremony for these remarks, calling it a “disgrace.”
As of now, no lawsuit has been filed, but the exchange has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with hashtags like #TrumpVsNoah trending globally.
Critics argue the president’s response highlights his thin skin toward satire, while supporters see it as a stand against false accusations.
The White House has not issued an official statement on the matter, but sources close to the administration say Trump is serious about pursuing legal options.
