Trump Threatens Legal Action Against Grammy Host Over Epstein Jokes

US President Donald Trump has threatened to take legal action against comedian Trevor Noah, host of the 68th Grammy Awards, following remarks linking him to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

According to AFP, Trump issued the threat on Monday after Noah made a series of jokes during the awards ceremony that referenced Trump, Epstein and former US President Bill Clinton.

While congratulating Billie Eilish for winning the Grammy Award for ‘Song of the Year’ for her track “Wildflower,” Noah quipped: “Wow. That’s a Grammy that every artist wants — almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,” a reference to Trump’s past comments about acquiring the autonomous Arctic territory.

Noah then added, “Which makes sense because, since Epstein’s gone, he needs a new island to hang out with Bill Clinton.”

The comments drew an immediate backlash from Trump, who took to his Truth Social platform to denounce both the Grammys and the comedian.

“The Grammy Awards are the WORST and virtually unwatchable,” Trump wrote before addressing Noah directly.

“I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory statement, have never been accused of being there — not even by the Fake News Media,” he said.

Trump, a Republican, went on to describe the South African-born comedian as a “total loser” and accused him of spreading falsehoods.

“I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless dope of an M.C. … Get ready, Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!” Trump added.

Noah, who announced that this would be his final year hosting the Grammys after six stints as emcee, has generally avoided heavy political commentary during past ceremonies.

Trump has previously acknowledged moving in the same social circles as Epstein in Florida and New York but has offered varying explanations over the years about why he later fell out with the disgraced financier. He has also spent months opposing the release of a large cache of documents related to Epstein.

More than three million documents released on Friday reportedly mentioned several prominent figures, including Trump, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, and Britain’s Prince Andrew.
— AFP