Trevor Noah Roasts Nicki Minaj at Grammys for Going MAGA: ‘She’s Still at the White House With Donald Trump’

During his energetic opening monologue at the Grammy Awards, host Trevor Noah notably departed from his usual apolitical stance to humorously address Nicki Minaj's recent, vocal support for Donald Trump. After engaging in playful banter with several attending celebrities, Noah pointed out the rapper's absence from the ceremony. He joked that Minaj was likely still at the White House, where Trump would be insisting, "Actually Nicki, I have the biggest ass!... WAP, WAP, WAP." This segment directly lampooned Minaj's controversial political alignment, a shift that has caused significant division among her fanbase regarding her embrace of the MAGA movement.

The sharper tone of this year's monologue contrasted with Noah's more restrained approach in 2023, when the Los Angeles wildfires led him to limit political commentary, though he still critiqued Trump-era trade policies. This ceremony marked his sixth and final time hosting the event. Ben Winston, the show's executive producer from Fulwell Entertainment—the production company co-founded by James Corden and known for "The Late Late Show"—confirmed in January that Noah would be stepping down. "He’s been the most phenomenal host of the show. His impact has been truly spectacular," Winston stated. Media analysts note that finding a successor with Noah's unique blend of global insight and genuine musical fandom will be a considerable challenge for the Recording Academy.

Noah's political jabs landed amidst a period of heightened public criticism toward U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Scrutiny has intensified following the January 24th fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during an enforcement operation, an incident that has drawn condemnation from Hollywood figures like Whoopi Goldberg and sparked protests at events like the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. This context gave Noah's monologue an added layer of social relevance, connecting celebrity culture to broader national debates.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards, broadcast from Los Angeles's Crypto.com Arena—a venue originally known as the Staples Center and a cornerstone of the city's downtown sports and entertainment district—saw Kendrick Lamar as the night's top contender with nine nominations. The acclaimed artist, whose Pulitzer Prize-winning 2017 album "DAMN." made him the first non-classical or jazz musician to receive the honor, was in the running for the major categories of record, song, and album of the year. His dominance set the stage for a potentially historic evening, underscoring the Grammys' ongoing evolution in recognizing artistic impact beyond commercial success.