Trevor Noah closed his sixth and final appearance as host of the Grammy Awards with a pointed joke that quickly became one of the ceremony’s most discussed moments.
The 68th Grammy Awards were held on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, marking the end of Noah’s consecutive hosting run.
As the ceremony progressed, the comedian addressed the absence of rapper Nicki Minaj, linking it humorously to recent political developments in the United States.
Referring to Minaj’s absence, Noah told the audience that “Nicki Minaj is not here. She is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues,” before launching into an exaggerated impression of the former US president.
The joke followed Nicki Minaj’s recent public appearances alongside Donald Trump, which had already stirred controversy online.
Days before the Grammys, Minaj attended a US Treasury-related event where she stood on stage with Trump and openly expressed her support for him.
At the event, Minaj described herself as “probably the president’s No. 1 fan,” adding that her political stance would not change.
Reports also indicated that she received Trump’s symbolic “gold card,” further fuelling debate about her growing alignment with MAGA-leaning politics.
Noah’s reference to the moment instantly gained traction across social media and entertainment platforms.
Political Jabs Intensify as Ceremony Continues
While Noah largely avoided overt politics at the start of the show, his tone became more pointed later in the night. After Billie Eilish won Song of the Year, the host delivered another politically charged punchline.
“Wow. That is a Grammy that every artist wants,” Noah said, “almost as much as Trump wants Greenland. Which makes sense, because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new island to hang out with Bill Clinton.”
The remark drew loud reactions inside the arena and later sparked controversy online.
Trump Responds with Legal Threats
Donald Trump reacted angrily after the ceremony, posting on Truth Social to deny Noah’s implication linking him to Jeffrey Epstein.
In the post, Trump wrote that “Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island,” insisting the claim was false and defamatory. He described Noah as “a total loser” and threatened legal action, saying lawyers would be contacted.
Trump added that he had “never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close.”
Anticipating backlash, Noah appeared unfazed during the ceremony. Reacting to audience gasps earlier in the night, he remarked, “Oh, I told you, it’s my last year. What are you going to do about it?”
At another point, he joked that the Grammys were airing “completely live” because “if we edited any of the show, the president would sue CBS for $16 billion.”
Noah also reflected on how long it had been since Lauryn Hill last performed at the Grammys.
“Back in 1999,” he said, “the president had a sex scandal, people thought computers were about to destroy the world, and Diddy was arrested.”
Lighter Moments Balance Sharp Commentary
Despite the political edge, Noah also shared lighter exchanges with performers in attendance. Addressing Kendrick Lamar, he joked that he avoided roasting him after remembering “what you can do to light-skinned dudes from other countries.”
He also bantered with Bad Bunny about relocating to Puerto Rico if conditions worsened in the US, prompting the singer to respond, “Puerto Rico is part of America.”
The Recording Academy announced less than three weeks before the event that Noah would return for one final hosting role. During the show, he explained the decision simply, saying “I believe in term limits.”
A four-time Grammy nominee himself, Noah was also nominated this year for Best Audio Book Recording for Into The Uncut Grass but lost to the Dalai Lama.
As he steps away from the Grammys stage, Noah’s final monologue is likely to be remembered as one of his sharpest, blending humor, politics, and controversy in a way that ensured his exit did not go unnoticed.
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