US President Donald Trump threatens to sue South African comedian Trevor Noah following remarks Noah made while hosting the Grammy Awards, turning a moment of satire into a political flashpoint.
During the ceremony, Noah made a joke linking Trump’s past interest in Greenland to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and his private island. The comment also referenced former president Bill Clinton.
The joke drew laughter from the audience. However, it triggered an immediate backlash from Trump.
Trump responded publicly by accusing Noah of spreading false and defamatory claims. He insisted that he had never visited Epstein’s island and said no media organisation had ever made such an allegation against him.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he would instruct his lawyers to sue Noah. He also dismissed the joke as inaccurate and politically motivated.
Trump has acknowledged that he knew Epstein socially in the past. However, he says their relationship ended around 2004, long before Epstein’s arrest.
He has repeatedly denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities. No Epstein survivor has accused Trump of wrongdoing. The US Justice Department has also stated that allegations linking Trump to Epstein’s crimes lack evidence.
Clinton has likewise denied visiting Epstein’s island and has not faced criminal accusations connected to the case.
Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. He had purchased his private island, Little St James, in 1998.
Several survivors later alleged abuse on the island. Since then, Epstein’s name has remained a recurring trigger in political and cultural disputes involving high-profile figures.
Trump has frequently turned to lawsuits to challenge media coverage and public commentary. In recent years, he has pursued legal action against major publications, including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
In December, he filed a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit against the BBC, accusing the organisation of defamation over the editing of a Panorama programme.
Noah, who was born in South Africa, gained international recognition as host of The Daily Show, a role he held for seven years.
Since leaving the show, he has hosted major global events, including the Grammy Awards. He has not publicly responded to Trump’s threat at this stage.
