WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened legal action against comedian Trevor Noah, the host of the 68th Grammy Awards, following a joke that referenced Trump alongside convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The controversy arose during the awards ceremony after Noah congratulated singer Billie Eilish for winning the Grammy for Song of the Year for her track “Wildflower.” While addressing the audience, Noah made a satirical remark linking Trump’s interest in Greenland to Epstein.
“Wow. That’s a Grammy that every artist wants — almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” Noah quipped, referring to Trump’s public statements about acquiring the autonomous Arctic territory, according to AFP.
Noah then followed with a more pointed comment: “Which makes sense because, since Epstein’s gone, he needs a new island to hang out with Bill Clinton.”
The joke marked a rare moment of overt political commentary from Noah, who has generally kept the Grammys light on political content during his six-year tenure as host. Noah has already announced that this year would be his final appearance as the ceremony’s emcee.
Trump reacted swiftly on his Truth Social platform, first dismissing the ceremony itself. “The Grammy Awards are the WORST and virtually unwatchable,” he wrote, before turning his attention to Noah directly.
“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 asserted.
The Republican leader went on to personally attack Noah, calling the South African-born comedian a “total loser” and urging him to “get his facts straight.”
“I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C. … Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!” Trump added.
Trump has previously acknowledged moving in similar elite social circles as Epstein in Florida and New York but has consistently denied involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities.
He has also fought for months to prevent the release of a large cache of documents related to the disgraced financier and has given varying explanations about why his relationship with Epstein eventually ended.
Earlier this month, more than three million documents were released, containing references to several high-profile individuals, including Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, former president Bill Clinton, and Britain’s former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
