US President Donald Trump has threatened legal action against comedian Trevor Noah following a joke made during the 68th Grammy Awards that appeared to link him to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Gatekeepers News reports that the remark was made while Noah, the ceremony’s host, was presenting the Song of the Year award, which was won by Billie Eilish for Wildflower. As he congratulated the singer, Noah joked that Trump wanted Greenland “almost as much as he wants Greenland,” a reference to the president’s past comments about acquiring the Arctic territory.
He then followed with another quip, suggesting that Trump now needed “a new island” to socialise on after Epstein’s death, a line that drew laughter from the audience.
The joke marked a rare political moment from Noah, who has largely avoided political commentary during his six-year run as Grammy host and had earlier announced that this would be his final appearance.
Trump reacted angrily on his Truth Social platform, where he described the Grammys as “virtually unwatchable” and accused Noah of making a defamatory statement.
“I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory statement, I have never been accused of being there,” Trump wrote.
He added that even media outlets he frequently criticises had not made such allegations.
The president went on to label Noah a “total loser” and said the comedian should “get his facts straight,” adding that his lawyers would be instructed to pursue legal action.
Trump has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein socially, saying they moved in similar circles in Florida and New York, but insists he later severed ties with him. In recent months, he has also opposed the public release of court documents related to the disgraced financier.
Last week, millions of pages of records were released, containing references to several high-profile figures, including Trump, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and Britain’s Prince Andrew.
