Trump attacks Grammys, threatens legal action against Trevor Noah over Epstein remarks

US President Donald Trump on Monday lashed out at the Grammy Awards and threatened to sue host Trevor Noah over jokes made during the ceremony, including remarks linking Trump to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump called the Grammys “virtually unwatchable” and described the broadcast as “garbage,” adding that CBS was “lucky” to no longer air the event—a reference to Disney taking over broadcast rights from next year.

Image

Trump’s anger centred on Noah’s opening monologue. Before announcing Song of the Year, the comedian joked that the award was coveted “almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” adding that since “Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.” The remark drew audible gasps from the audience, prompting Noah to quip, “It’s my last year—what are you going to do about it?”

Image

Trump accused Noah of defamation, insisting he had never visited Epstein’s island. “I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close,” he wrote, claiming the allegation had never previously been made, “not even by the Fake News Media.”

Image

He warned that legal action could follow unless the claim was retracted, calling Noah a “pathetic, talentless” host and saying he was prepared to “send my lawyers.”

The 2026 Grammy Awards were held Monday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Neither Noah nor Grammy organisers have publicly responded to Trump’s comments.