Trump to Sue Trevor Noah After Epstein Joke at Grammys

Former President Donald Trump has reacted angrily to a joke made by comedian Trevor Noah during the 2026 Grammy Awards, threatening legal action after Noah referenced Trump’s name in a quip involving Jeffrey Epstein’s private island.

The comment came amid the recent release of millions of pages of Department of Justice files related to Epstein, sparking renewed public interest in the late financier’s connections.

What Noah Said at the Grammys

During the Grammy Awards broadcast on February 1 in Los Angeles, Noah made several humorous barbs aimed at public figures, including a comment linking Trump’s supposed desire for Greenland to a notion that “since Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.” That line — delivered moments before the Song of the Year announcement — drew audible reactions from the live audience and quickly caught attention online.

The joke was a satirical play on Trump’s alleged interest in Greenland and on the long-publicised story of Epstein’s private Caribbean island — a site that has become symbolic in discussions of Epstein’s circle. Historical records show Trump and Epstein were acquaintances in the 1990s but have denied any wrongdoing or inappropriate conduct; Trump has repeatedly said he never visited Epstein’s island or engaged in illicit activity.

Trump’s Response and Threatened Lawsuit

Following the broadcast, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to sharply rebut the joke and threatened to pursue legal action against Noah. In his posts, he called Noah’s comment “false and defamatory” and insisted that he has *never been to Epstein’s private island — “nor anywhere close.” Trump wrote that he had never been accused of doing so “not even by the Fake News Media.”

He also attacked the Grammys generally, calling the show “the WORST, virtually unwatchable,” and labelled Noah a “total loser” and “pathetic, talentless, dope.” Trump warned Noah that he would be taking the comedian to court and said he planned to make “plenty$” from the action, suggesting his lawyers were standing by to begin proceedings.

The legal threat escalates a pattern in Trump’s public disputes with media figures and entertainment outlets; in prior years, he has taken legal aim at TV networks and personalities over perceived defamatory remarks.

Broader Context — The Epstein Files and Ongoing Debate

The discussion at the Grammys came just as the Department of Justice released a massive trove of documents connected to the long-running investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. Those files, spanning millions of pages, include references to numerous public figures but do not on their own prove criminal conduct by individuals mentioned. Trump, like others named in the documents, has denied any illegal activity or substantive involvement in Epstein’s criminal enterprise.

Noah’s joke echoed broader public discourse generated by the file release, and Trump’s forceful rebuttal underscores how such humor can quickly cross into political controversy when it touches on sensitive matters involving prominent individuals.

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