Trevor Noah wasted no time while hosting the 2026 Grammy Awards, opening the show by cracking a joke about Nicki Minaj’s absence, and dragging Donald Trump into the punchline.
While addressing the crowd during the ceremony, Noah pointed out that Minaj wasn’t in attendance, suspecting it’s due to her newfound friendship with the president.
“Nicki Minaj is not here. She is not here,” said Noah. “Um... She is... She is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues.”
The comedian then took things a step further, mimicking what he jokingly imagined a conversation between Trump and Minaj might sound like.
“‘Actually, 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. Wop, wop, wop. Look at it. Look at it, baby.’”
The joke quickly drew laughter from the audience and lit up social media, with clips of the moment spreading across platforms within minutes of airing.
Noah, who has built a reputation for mixing sharp political humor with pop culture references during major award shows, has frequently taken playful jabs at Donald Trump over the years. This time, his joke also tied in Nicki Minaj — whose recent public alignment with Trump has kept her in headlines.
Just days before the Grammys, Minaj made waves after appearing alongside Trump at a financial summit in Washington, D.C., where she openly praised the former president and expressed unwavering support. Holding hands with Trump onstage, Minaj told the crowd she considered herself his biggest supporter and said criticism only fueled her loyalty. She also spoke about backing him more strongly in the face of what she described as negative media campaigns.
Trump, for his part, returned the praise, introducing Minaj as one of the most successful female rappers in history and joking about everything from her fan investments to her signature long nails. He even remarked that he had heard she had been supporting him for some time, despite taking heat from critics.
The very public display of mutual admiration made Noah’s Grammys joke land even harder for viewers familiar with their recent appearances together.
Minaj herself has not publicly commented on Noah’s joke or her absence from the ceremony.
