Can Donald Trump Really Sue Trevor Noah Over Grammys Joke?

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Over 15 million viewers tuned in to watch the Grammy Awards on CBS Sunday night. Apparently, President Donald Trump was among them, and he’s reportedly considering legal action against the show’s host, Trevor Noah, because of a joke Noah made about Jeffrey Epstein.

Noah, letting the audience know this would be his last year hosting, joked that ending his time as host was like a president finishing their term. “I believe in term limits,” he said, adding that he hoped to set an example by leaving when his time was up. He also made several references to Donald Trump. While presenting the award for Song of the Year, Noah pointed out that it was a highly coveted prize, comparing the artists’ desire for a Grammy to Trump’s well-known interest in buying Greenland. He then quipped that this made sense, since with Epstein’s island no longer available, Trump might be looking for a new place to visit with Bill Clinton.

Trump quickly responded to the broadcast by turning to his legal team. He took to Truth Social, calling the program “virtually unwatchable” and criticizing host Trevor Noah, comparing him unfavorably to Jimmy Kimmel. Trump also strongly denied Noah’s claim that he had visited Epstein’s island, writing “WRONG!!!” While Trump’s name appears in documents related to Epstein, no evidence has ever surfaced to confirm he actually went to the island.

Trump attacked comedian Noah, calling him a “total loser” and threatening legal action. He demanded Noah correct what he claimed were false statements, writing that he would sue him for a significant amount of money. Trump ended the message with a threat, saying he would “have some fun” with Noah, and signed it “President DJT.”

This isn’t the first time Donald Trump has threatened to sue a comedian. Last year, after Jimmy Kimmel returned to television following a brief suspension for comments about Charlie Kirk, Trump was upset and accused Kimmel of being a mouthpiece for the Democratic party on his social media platform, claiming it was an illegal campaign contribution. Trump said he would take legal action against ABC, referencing a $15 million settlement he received in 2024 after a report on Good Morning America incorrectly stated the outcomes of the E. Jean Carroll civil cases. He also previously won a $16 million settlement from CBS regarding how they edited an interview with Kamala Harris. Kimmel responded by calling Trump a “bully” on his show, but Trump never actually filed a lawsuit.

So, does Donald Trump’s threat to sue Trevor Noah actually hold any weight? He’s already involved in five other lawsuits against news organizations. The Washington Post reports these include cases against The New York Times, the Pulitzer Prize Board, The Wall Street Journal, the BBC, and the Des Moines Register. Given how much legal work Trump’s team already has, we consulted two legal experts to assess whether Trump has a legitimate case against Noah. Fortunately for Noah, both experts – David D. Cole, a law professor and former ACLU director, and Tre Lovell, a defamation lawyer – agree that jokes are generally protected by law.

Does Trump have any case for suing Trevor Noah over a joke?

Both Cole and Lovell said it’s far-fetched for a court to view a joke as defamation.

Cole dismissed the potential lawsuit as completely baseless. He explained that the comment was a joke delivered during a comedy routine, and no one would reasonably believe it to be a statement of fact. Therefore, he believes there’s no grounds for a defamation claim.

Cole clarified that a statement must meet a high standard to be considered defamation in court. It needs to be presented as a fact, and the person making it must either know it’s false or have carelessly disregarded the truth.

Cole argued that the claim wouldn’t hold up in court because it wasn’t a statement of fact, but rather a joke. Therefore, there’s no legal basis for a defamation lawsuit regarding Trevor Noah’s statement.

Lovell agreed.

Lovell explained that comedy relies on things like satire, sarcasm, and the absurd – elements designed to make people laugh. He pointed out that viewers shouldn’t take comedians like Trevor Noah literally, as their work is meant to be entertaining, not to deliver factual news.

Does this mean Trump might not actually sue Noah?

Lovell doubts Trump will sue Noah, predicting a lawsuit would be hard to win.

Cole stated that Trump will likely still file a lawsuit. He also noted that while a media company might still choose to settle, he hopes they will uphold their values this time and dismiss the case outright – something they should have done previously with the Kamala Harris interview on 60 Minutes (CBS ended up paying Trump $16 million to settle that suit). Cole believes this new lawsuit is just as unfounded as the last one.

Should other comedians be wary of making jokes about Trump?

According to Lovell, Trump routinely threatens legal action against anyone who criticizes him. This behavior can discourage comedians from making jokes about him, because even baseless lawsuits require time and effort to fight off, which is something they’d prefer to avoid.

Watching Trump’s recent behavior, it’s clear he’s continuing a troubling pattern of going after the press. According to Cole, it’s more than just disagreement – he’s actively trying to intimidate and silence anyone who criticizes him, even using the power of the government to do so, and often based on claims that just don’t hold up.

“Thankfully, Trevor Noah was not chilled,” he added.

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2026-02-04 00:55