Trevor Noah wasted no time stirring controversy at the 2025 Grammy Awards as he took a moment to throw a sharp joke at President Donald Trump.
The South African comedian, best known for his tenure on The Daily Show, returned to host the prestigious award ceremony for the fifth time on Sunday (February 2).
As always, the 40-year-old delivered a mix of lighthearted jokes aimed at celebrities in the room and deeper social commentary - but one particular comment about the newly elected president quickly became one of the most talked-about online.
During his opening monologue, Noah addressed various social issues before slyly aiming for the 78-year-old's return to the White House.
“There’s been a few changes in Washington,” Noah quipped, cited by NME. “So I’m gonna enjoy tonight because this may be my last time I get to host anything in this country.”
The joke was a clear reference to Trump's hardline stance on immigration, a policy focus that has intensified since his return to office.
Within his first week as president, thousands of undocumented immigrants were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the BBC.
The crackdown has sparked strong reactions across the country, with figures like Selena Gomez taking to social media to express their sadness over the situation.
In the now-deleted video, the 32-year-old musician broke down in tears as she reacted to the two-time leader's order of mass deportations.
“I’m so sorry. All my people are getting attacked,” she said as tears were streaming down her face. “The children. I don’t understand. I’m so sorry. I wish I could do something but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise."
The clip also featured a text overlay in which Gomez wrote: “I’m sorry,” accompanied by an emoji of the Mexican flag.
The video was quickly removed from her social media, but not before the 'Love You Like A Love Song' artist faced backlash from some individuals on the right.
In a follow-up post, Gomez addressed the criticism, writing: “Apparently, it’s not okay to show empathy for people.”
While Noah’s joke about Trump stirred plenty of reactions, it wasn’t the only serious issue he addressed during the night.
The 40-year-old also took a moment to acknowledge the horrific wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles in recent weeks, praising the city’s resilience and spirit.
But after setting the stage with serious topics, the talk show host soon pivoted back to his signature comedic style, delivering playful roasts about some of the biggest stars in the room.
Noah joked about the rise of artificial intelligence, suggesting that the only way fans might finally get a new Rihanna album - her last one was released in 2016 - would be if AI stepped in to make it happen.
He also had a good-natured jab at Taylor Swift, noting that she had the chance to break her own record for the most Best Album wins. However, it wasn’t meant to be as Beyoncé ultimately took home the award for Cowboy Carter.