Trump Threatens to Sue Trevor Noah Over Epstein Island Joke at 2026 Grammys

Donald Trump has threatened to sue comedian Trevor Noah over a joke made during the 2026 Grammy Awards. This has sparked a new media controversy.

During the awards show, Noah joked in his opening monologue that Trump “needs a new island to hang out on with Bill Clinton” since Jeffrey Epstein’s private island is no longer available.

In a series of posts on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump denied ever visiting Epstein’s island. Fact-checking groups have repeatedly challenged this claim. He called Noah’s comment “false and defamatory.”

Trump wrote, “Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me… that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!!” He insisted that he had “never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close,” and warned that his lawyers would take legal action “for plenty.”

Trump also criticized the Grammy broadcast, calling it “the WORST, virtually unwatchable.” He described Noah as a “poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C.” in his posts.

Legal experts note that satirical comments about public figures are usually protected under US free speech laws. They say it would be hard for Trump to win a defamation lawsuit based on a comedic act.

This incident comes as interest in Epstein-related material has increased. The Department of Justice released millions of pages of investigative documents earlier this week. Some of these files mention Trump and other prominent figures, but they do not prove that he visited Epstein’s island.

Noah’s joke also touched on larger cultural and political themes present during the globally televised event, which featured political commentary from both performers and nominees.

So far, no formal lawsuit has been filed, and representatives for both men had not responded to requests for comment. It remains unclear whether Trump will follow through on his threat or if the matter will remain a public spat on social media.