Trevor Noah Throws Jibes At Nicki Minaj Over MAGA Links

Comedian Trevor Noah took a pointed swipe at rapper Nicki Minaj during his final outing as host of the Grammy Awards, sparking widespread conversation across social media and entertainment platforms.

Noah, who hosted the 68th Grammy Awards held on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, used his closing monologue to joke about Minaj’s absence from the ceremony.

“She’s still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues,” Noah quipped, before launching into an exaggerated impression of the US president.

The remark quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the night, trending online shortly after it aired.

Noah’s joke followed Minaj’s recent public appearances alongside US President Donald Trump. Days before the Grammys, the rapper attended a US Treasury-related event, where she appeared on stage with Trump and openly expressed her support for him.

During the event, Minaj described herself as “probably the president’s No. 1 fan” and said her support was “not going to change.” Reports also indicated that she received Trump’s symbolic “gold card,” further fuelling public debate over her political alignment.

Beyond the Minaj reference, Noah used his monologue to poke fun at celebrities in attendance while reflecting on the broader political climate in the United States.

As he outlined what the ceremony would include, he compared the 2026 Grammys to the 1999 edition, drawing parallels between past and present moments in American culture.

“The last time Lauryn Hill performed at the Grammys was in 1999,” Noah said. “Back then, the president had a sex scandal, people thought computers were about to destroy the world, and Diddy was arrested. Boy, how times have changed.”

This year’s approach marked a shift from Noah’s 2025 opening monologue, which focused on the resilience of Los Angeles and paid tribute to victims of the Palisades and Eaton fires. While lighter in tone, the 2026 monologue was more politically pointed, reflecting Noah’s signature blend of humour and social commentary.

Nicki Minaj’s relationship with the Grammy Awards has long been a subject of debate. Despite being one of the most commercially successful and influential female rappers in music history, she has never won a Grammy Award.

Minaj has received 12 nominations across multiple categories without securing a win, a record that has repeatedly sparked conversations about how the Recording Academy recognises hip-hop, particularly female rap artists.

The rapper has previously criticised the Grammys, accusing the institution of overlooking her contributions despite her cultural impact and commercial success.

As Trevor Noah steps down after six consecutive years as Grammys host, his final monologue is likely to be remembered as one of his sharpest; blending entertainment, politics, and pop culture in a way that once again placed the ceremony at the centre of public discourse.