US President Donald Trump has threatened to take legal action against comedian Trevor Noah over a joke made during the 68th Grammy Awards that linked him to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The remark came as Noah presented the Song of the Year award, which was won by Billie Eilish for Wildflower. While congratulating the singer, Noah joked that Trump wanted Greenland “almost as much as he wants Greenland,” a reference to the president’s earlier comments about acquiring the Arctic territory.
Noah then followed up with another quip, suggesting that Trump might be looking for “a new island” to socialise on following Epstein’s death, a comment that drew laughter from the audience.
The comedian, who announced that this would be his final year hosting the Grammys after six appearances, has generally avoided overt political jokes during past ceremonies.
Trump reacted angrily on his Truth Social platform, describing the Grammys as “virtually unwatchable” and condemning Noah’s comments. He insisted that he had never visited Epstein’s private island or anywhere associated with it.
“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, I have never been accused of being there,” Trump wrote, adding that even media outlets critical of him had not made such allegations.
He went on to label Noah a “total loser,” accused him of spreading falsehoods, and said his lawyers would be instructed to pursue legal action.
Trump has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein socially, saying they moved in similar circles in Florida and New York, but has maintained that he later severed ties with him. In recent months, he has also opposed the release of court documents related to Epstein.
Last week, millions of pages of documents were released, containing references to several high-profile figures, including Trump, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and Britain’s Prince Andrew.
