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Trevor Noah returned to the Grammy Awards stage in 2026 as host, continuing his now-familiar role as the show’s comedic anchor. Known for blending sharp cultural commentary with an easy, self-aware delivery, Noah poked fun at several big names. And his dig at Nicki Minaj’s politics didn’t go unnoticed. Here’s how Minaj responded to Noah — plus, what she said about Jay-Z and Lizzo.

Trevor Noah mentioned Nicki Minaj in his monologue at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards

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Trevor Noah’s opening monologue leaned into the Grammys’ ongoing conversation about relevance and power in the music industry. And he used tightly-written jokes to acknowledge both the night’s biggest nominees and the Academy’s long-running criticisms. Noah also poked fun at the length of the ceremony and the unpredictability of live award shows before pivoting to praise the artists who shaped the year in music. And, of course, he used his hosting opportunity at the 2026 Grammys to poke fun at a few legends, including Nicki Minaj.

“Nicki Minaj is not here. She is not here,” Noah begins as he’s met with thunderous applause from the audience. The camera then pans to Chrissy Teigen, who gives a thumbs-up. “She is still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues.”

Noah then mocks Trump’s voice as he continues. “‘Actually, Nicki, I have the biggest a**. I have it. Everybody’s saying it, Nicki. I know they say it’s you, but it’s me. Look at it! Look at it, baby.'”

The crowd continues to go wild as the camera shows the faces in the room. Fans noticed how Jennifer Hudson looked visibly uncomfortable with the joke, gritting her teeth and keeping her head down. Some others in the audience nervously applauded as the jab continued.

Nicki Minaj took a jab at Trevor Noah after his Grammys monologue

Nicki Minaj seemingly wasn’t laughing following Trevor Noah’s joke about her and Donald Trump at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. She took to X to make a jab about Noah’s sexuality.

“Trevor refuses to come out the closet when everyone in the industry knows his boyfriend. Allegedly,” she posted.

Additionally, she included a photo of herself in a pink hat that reads, “Nicki was right about everything.” She also included photos of Jay-Z with Aaliyah and Beyoncé, insinuating that Jay-Z was spending time with teens when he was in his 20s.

Nicki continued to post about other celebrities on her X feed. She took a jab at Lizzo’s weight, claiming the singer “lost 300 lbs just to sell 300 albums.”

“As they do their ritual tonight, God almighty will reveal himself to them,” Nicki posted, likely referring to the Grammy Awards. “The ritual will backfire on them. God will not be mocked. Blessed is the MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. Every tongue that rises up against me in judgment shall be condemned & put to shame. Watch.”

The rapper publicly called herself Donald Trump’s ‘No. 1 fan’ recently

Nicki Minaj’s name has increasingly intersected with Donald Trump’s in recent weeks following a series of high-profile appearances. In late January 2026, the rapper appeared alongside Trump at the Treasury Department–hosted “Trump Accounts Summit” in Washington. There, she publicly declared herself the president’s “No. 1 fan” and pledged between $150,000 and $300,000 to support Trump’s new child investment savings initiative for babies born between 2025 and 2028. During the event, Trump praised Minaj as the “greatest and most successful female rapper in history.”

Many fans on Reddit supported Trevor Noah’s joke about Nicki. And many noted that he could’ve gone even further with the roast.

“This is amazing. And everyone in the audience grinning ear to ear,” a fan on Reddit commented. “Yeah, stuff like this needs to happen more with people who can use their platform.”

“Yeah, it wasn’t that much of a roast, but oooh that whole crowd cheering that she’s not there,” another Reddit user wrote.

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