In a post on his social media platform Truth Social after the broadcast, Trump said the joke was “incorrect” and “false and defamatory,” denying that he had ever visited Epstein’s island. He wrote that he has “never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close,” and said Noah had “better get his facts straight.” Trump also characterized the Grammy broadcast as “virtually unwatchable.”
Trump’s message included a warning that he planned to send lawyers after Noah, saying he would pursue legal action. The president has in the past taken legal action against media organizations over coverage he considered defamatory, and he referenced those cases in his comments.
Representatives for Trevor Noah did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and no lawsuit had been filed as of Monday.
The Grammy Awards ceremony this year also featured performances and statements from artists on a range of topics, with several winners using their time on stage to address social and cultural issues.