Donald Trump has threatened legal action against Grammy Awards host Trevor Noah following a joke regarding the former president’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The remark, which satirized Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland and Epstein’s private island, drew a sharp rebuke on Truth Social this Monday.
“Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!!,” Trump wrote.
“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, have never been accused of being there, not even by the Fake News Media.”
Trump’s threat comes as the Grammys celebrated artists who spoke out against his administration’s policies, including anti-immigrant sentiment.
Billie Eilish, Olivia Dean, and Bad Bunny were among those who used their acceptance speeches to criticize Trump’s stance on immigration.
“No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said. “It’s really hard to know what to say or what to do right now … we need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting.”
Olivia Dean, the best new artist winner whose grandmother emigrated from Guyana to the UK, said: “I am up here as the granddaughter of an immigrant. I’m a product of bravery and I think those people deserve to be celebrated.”
Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican singer who won three awards, said: “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say ICE out. We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens – we’re humans and we are Americans.”
Television comedians, particularly late-night hosts such as Noah, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, have been a regular target of Trump’s ire during his second term for their criticism of the president.
The Grammys were also a milestone for CBS, as they marked the network’s last broadcast of the awards show.
Trump celebrated the news, calling the Grammys “the WORST, virtually unwatchable!”.
Noah, who has hosted the Grammys for six consecutive years, joked about it being his last year during the show.
“I told you it’s my last year!” he said, adding, “What are you gonna do about it?”
The controversy surrounding Trump’s connection to Epstein has been ongoing, with both Trump and Bill Clinton having been friends with the late financier.
Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges of prostitution and solicitation of prostitution with a minor in 2008 and was later jailed in New York in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges, where he died by suicide.
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