The 68th Annual Grammy Awards was held on February 1, 2026, bringing together music’s biggest names for one of the industry’s most prestigious nights.

Noah returned as host for what he announced would be his final time helming the ceremony, having previously hosted the event six times.

The CBS-broadcast show featured performances and awards honoring the best in music over the past year.

Yet, it was his jokes directed at President Trump that would ultimately dominate headlines and spark a fierce response from the White House.

What Trevor Noah said

The joke that ignited Trump’s fury came during the lead-up to the Song of the Year category.

Noah quipped: “Song of the Year – that is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.”

The comment referenced both Trump’s recent renewed demands for the United States to acquire Greenland and his well-documented past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on s** trafficking charges.

Also, the joke mentioned former President Bill Clinton, who has similarly faced scrutiny over his connections to Epstein.

As an audible gasp emanated from the audience, Noah doubled down with a laugh, saying: “Oh, I told you it’s my last year! What are you going to do about it?”

Noah didn’t limit his Trump material to that single moment.

Throughout his opening monologue, he made multiple jabs at the President, including one comparing rapper Nicki Minaj’s absence from the ceremony to her supposedly being at the White House ‘discussing very important issues’ – a reference to her 12 Grammy nominations without a single win, according to the Express.

Trump’s furious response

The President wasted no time responding to Noah’s comedy routine.

After the broadcast concluded, president Trump took to his Truth Social platform to unleash a blistering attack on both the host and the awards show itself.

“The Grammy Awards are the WORST, virtually unwatchable!” Trump wrote. “CBS is lucky not to have this garbage litter their airwaves any longer. The host, Trevor Noah, whoever he may be, is almost as bad as Jimmy Kimmel at the Low Ratings Academy Awards.”

The President specifically disputed Noah’s characterization of his relationship with Epstein, writing: “Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!! I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, not 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 then issued his legal threat: “Noah, a total loser, better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast. It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C., and suing him for plenty $.”

Trump concluded his post with an ominous promise: “Ask Little George Spladopolus and others how that all worked out. Also, ask CBS! Get ready, Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you! President DJT.”

Though Trump vehemently denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James in the Caribbean, the two men’s past association has been extensively documented.

Trump is known to have traveled on Epstein’s private jet on several occasions, even though there is no evidence suggesting he visited the island where Epstein allegedly conducted his s** trafficking operation, per Politico.

The friendship between Trump and Epstein ended before the financier’s 2008 conviction on charges related to soliciting p***titution from a minor. Trump has repeatedly distanced himself from Epstein and denied any knowledge of his criminal activities.

Reactions pour in

The exchange quickly became a trending topic on social media, with reactions sharply divided along predictable political lines.

While supporters of the president condemned Noah’s joke as inappropriate and defamatory, critics of Trump praised the comedian’s willingness to take on the sitting President despite potential consequences.

Various entertainment industry observers noted that Trump’s threat of legal action could actually violate First Amendment protections for satirical speech, particularly when directed at public figures.

As of Monday morning, representatives for Noah had not publicly responded to Trump’s threats. CBS similarly has not issued any statement regarding the President’s comments about the network or the Grammy broadcast.