U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out online at comedian Trevor Noah after a politically barbed joke during the 68th Grammy Awards broadcast from Crypto.com Arena on February 1, 2026.
The moment came shortly after Billie Eilish won Song of the Year for Wildflower. As he introduced the category, Noah quipped that the award is one “every artist wants — almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” adding that “Epstein’s island is gone” and joking about needing “a new one” to hang out with Bill Clinton.
Noah later underscored that it was his last year hosting, joking on-air about what consequences could follow. Reports describe this as Noah’s sixth consecutive — and final — stint as host.
Trump’s Truth Social posts and lawsuit threat
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the remark “false and defamatory,” insisted he has “never been to Epstein Island,” and threatened to involve lawyers. He also blasted the ceremony as “virtually unwatchable” and attacked Noah personally.
What a defamation case would have to clear
In U.S. defamation law, public officials/public figures generally face a high legal bar: a plaintiff typically must show not only falsity, but also “actual malice” (knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth), a standard rooted in Supreme Court precedent.
No immediate replies
As of February 2, outlets reported no public response from The Recording Academy or Noah’s representatives to the lawsuit threat.
By – Sonali