Comedian Trevor Noah closed his final turn as Grammys host with a pointed joke aimed at Nicki Minaj, making it one of the night’s most talked-about moments.
The 68th Grammy Awards, held on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, marked Noah’s sixth consecutive year as host and his final appearance in the role.
One of the night’s most notable moments came when Noah addressed Minaj’s absence from the ceremony. He joked that the rapper was “still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues,” before launching into an exaggerated impression of the former US president.
The remark quickly became one of the most discussed moments of the ceremony, gaining traction across social media and entertainment platforms shortly after it aired.
Noah’s joke followed Minaj’s recent public appearances alongside Donald Trump. Just days before the Grammys, the rapper attended a US Treasury-related event where she stood on stage with the president and openly expressed her support for him.
During the event, Minaj described herself as “probably the president’s No. 1 fan” and said her support was not going to change. Reports also indicated that she received Trump’s symbolic “gold card,” further fuelling public discussion about her political alignment.
Noah also used his monologue to poke fun at celebrities in attendance while reflecting on the broader political climate in the United States.
As he outlined what the ceremony would include, he compared the 2026 Grammys to the 1999 edition, drawing parallels between past and present moments in American culture.
“The last time Lauryn Hill performed at the Grammys was in 1999,” Noah said. “Back then, the president had a sex scandal, people thought computers were about to destroy the world, and Diddy was arrested. Boy, how times have changed.”
Noah’s approach this year contrasted with his opening monologue in 2025, which focused on the resilience of Los Angeles and included tributes to victims of the Palisades and Eaton fires. This year’s tone was lighter, but more politically pointed, reflecting both the current climate and Noah’s established style of blending humour with social commentary.
Nicki Minaj’s relationship with the Grammy Awards has long been a subject of debate. Despite being one of the most successful and influential female rappers in music history, she has never won a Grammy Award. Minaj has received 12 nominations across multiple categories without securing a win.
The record has often sparked conversations about how the Recording Academy recognises hip-hop, particularly female rap artists. Minaj herself has previously criticised the Grammys, accusing the institution of overlooking her contributions despite her commercial success and cultural impact.
As Trevor Noah steps down from hosting the Grammys, his final monologue is likely to be remembered as one of his sharpest.
