Trevor Noah used his opening appearance at the 2026 Grammy Awards to deliver repeated jabs at US President Donald Trump, placing political references at the centre of his monologue during music’s biggest night on Sunday.

 

 

The most direct remark came later in the ceremony following Billie Eilish’s Song of the Year win, when Noah linked the award to Trump in a joke referencing Greenland. “That is a Grammy that every artist wants — almost as much as Trump wants Greenland, which makes sense because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton”.

 

 

Noah, hosting the Grammys for the sixth and final time, set the tone earlier in the night by addressing Nicki Minaj’s absence from the ceremony and tying it to her recent White House visit and public support for Trump. “Nicki Minaj is not here,” he told the audience. “She is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues, actually.”

 

 

He followed the remark with an impression of Trump, saying, “‘Nicki, I have the biggest ass. I have it. Everybody’s saying it, Nicki. I know they say it’s you, but it’s me. Womp womp womp. Look at it, baby.’” The comments were met with cheers from the audience.

 

 

Minaj has been nominated for a Grammy 12 times but has not won. Her most recent nomination came in 2024 for “Barbie World,” which appeared in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie film.

 

 

Trump was referenced again when Noah spoke about Lauryn Hill’s return to the Grammy stage for the first time since 1999. Drawing a comparison with the political climate at the time, Noah said, “Back in 1999, the president had had a sex scandal, people thought computers were about to destroy the world, and Diddy was arrested. Boy, how times have changed.”

 

 

As he acknowledged the audience, which included Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Jamie Foxx, Pharrell and Doechii, Noah described the gathering as resembling “Jeff Bezos’ wedding, but with way more Black people.”

 

 

Political references continued throughout the ceremony, with Noah also joking about his decision to step down as host. “This is my sixth and final time hosting,” he said. “I believe in term limits. Leave when your time is up.”

 

 

The remarks came amid reported protests in several US cities against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers deployed under Trump’s mass deportation initiative.