Trevor Noah Sparks Controversy at 2026 Grammys with Nicki Minaj Joke
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The 68th annual Grammy Awards, held on Sunday night, was marked by a moment of sharp humor and ensuing controversy when host Trevor Noah took a pointed jab at rapper Nicki Minaj’s absence from the ceremony. As the music industry’s biggest night unfolded, Noah, known for his incisive wit, highlighted not only the luminaries present but also those conspicuously missing.
“Nicki Minaj is not here. She is not here, uh,” Noah remarked during his opening monologue, prompting prolonged cheers from the audience. He then quipped, “She is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues,” followed by an impression of the former president boasting about having a “bigger ass” than the rapper. The joke landed squarely on Minaj’s recent high-profile political alignment, which has stirred considerable debate.
Earlier this week, Nicki Minaj made headlines when she spoke at the Trump Accounts Summit in Washington, D.C., promoting the president’s infant investment accounts program. There, she proclaimed herself “probably the president’s number one fan,” a statement that has fueled discourse across social and traditional media. The summit itself was a platform to advance financial initiatives aimed at early childhood investment, a topic covered extensively by official government outlets such as the White House Briefing Room.
Minaj’s political engagement was further underscored when she was presented with a Trump Gold Card visa during the summit—a million-dollar residency card touted by Trump as a “direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people.” Born in Trinidad, Minaj has publicly shared that she “came to this country as an illegal immigrant @ 5 years old,” a personal history that intersects with broader immigration debates overseen by agencies like the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Her outspoken support for Trump and the resulting backlash online did not deter Minaj. At the summit, she addressed critics directly, stating, “The hate or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more.” This stance has polarized fans and industry insiders alike, highlighting the complex relationship between celebrity influence and political identity.
Following Noah’s joke, Minaj responded swiftly on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the comedian of hypocrisy by tweeting, “Trevor refuses to come out the closet when everyone in the industry knows his boyfriend… Allegedly.” She accompanied the tweet with a seemingly AI-generated image of herself in the Oval Office wearing a pink MAGA hat emblazoned with the phrase “NICKI WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!” The exchange has only intensified discussions about personal beliefs, public personas, and the role of satire in entertainment.
The Grammys, produced by The Recording Academy, have often been a stage for cultural commentary, but this incident underscores the increasingly fraught intersection of music, politics, and celebrity. As the industry continues to navigate these waters, moments like these serve as reminders of the powerful platforms artists and hosts command.
For more information about the Grammy Awards and their cultural impact, visit the official Recording Academy website. Coverage of political events such as the Trump Accounts Summit can be found through official sources including the White House and related government agencies.
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