President Donald Trump threatens legal action against Trevor Noah over Epstein joke at Grammys

President Donald Trump has threatened to sue comedian Trevor Noah following a joke made during the 2026 Grammy Awards that referenced Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Noah, who hosted the annual music ceremony, made the remark while introducing the Song of the Year category. In a monologue-style aside, he joked that the Grammy was coveted by artists “almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” before adding a punchline referencing Epstein’s private island and Clinton. The comment drew laughter inside the venue but quickly ignited controversy once clips circulated online.

Within hours, Trump responded forcefully on his Truth Social platform, accusing Noah of making a false and defamatory statement. The president denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island and said he had never previously been accused of doing so.

“Noah said, incorrectly, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island,” Trump wrote. “That is wrong. I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close.”

Trump went on to say that Noah’s joke crossed a legal line and that he would instruct his attorneys to pursue action. “Get ready, Noah,” Trump added. “I’m going to have some fun with you.”

Trump has long acknowledged knowing Epstein socially in the past but has repeatedly stated that he cut ties with the financier years before Epstein’s 2006 arrest on prostitution-related charges. He has said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and has denied any involvement in or connection to Epstein’s abuse of underage girls.

The U.S. Justice Department has also stated in previous filings that allegations involving Trump and Epstein were unfounded. Trump has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing by Epstein’s victims, nor has any evidence emerged that he visited Epstein’s private Caribbean island, Little St. James.

Former President Bill Clinton has similarly denied ever visiting Epstein’s island. A spokesperson for Clinton said in 2020 that Clinton “never went” to Little St. James and had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal behavior at the time of their association. Clinton has also not been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein’s survivors.

Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death intensified public scrutiny of his relationships with powerful figures in politics, business, and entertainment, as well as criticism over how the justice system handled earlier investigations into his crimes.

Trump’s response to Noah’s joke continues a pattern of aggressive legal threats against media organizations and public figures. In recent years, Trump has pursued or threatened lawsuits against several outlets, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Most recently, in December, Trump filed a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit in Florida against the BBC, alleging defamation and violations of trade practices laws over the editing of a Panorama documentary. The BBC has denied wrongdoing.

Trevor Noah, a South African-born comedian, hosted The Daily Show on Comedy Central for seven years before stepping down in 2022. Since leaving the program, he has continued hosting high-profile events, including multiple award shows, and remains one of the most prominent political satirists in global entertainment.

President Donald Trump has threatened to sue comedian Trevor Noah after a joke at the 2026 Grammy Awards referenced Trump, Bill Clinton, and Jeffrey Epstein, prompting Trump to deny any connection to Epstein’s private island and accuse Noah of defamation.

Legal experts note that public figures face a high bar when pursuing defamation claims, particularly over jokes made in a comedic context. However, Trump’s history of litigation suggests the dispute may continue to escalate, keeping the controversy in public view long after the Grammys ceremony has ended.