Trevor Noah takes dig at Donald Trump moments in Grammys 2025 monologue as he swipes at immigration tariffs
Trevor Noah wasted no time in taking a dig at newly elected President Donald Trump as he opened the 67th Grammy Awards on Sunday night.
The comedian first kicked off proceedings with a poignant tribute to Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires that have swept through the city.
The host, returning for his fifth consecutive year, acknowledged the scale of the disaster, noting that “tens of thousands of people have lost their homes” and “entire neighbourhoods have been erased”.
“Despite all the devastation, the spirit of the city has emerged”, Noah declared to the audience at the Crypto.com Arena.
The tribute was followed by a special performance of Randy Newman’s I Love L.A., featuring an all-star lineup including John Legend, Brittany Howard, Sheryl Crow, St. Vincent and Brad Paisley, fronted by Dawes.
Noah quickly moved on to addressing American politics, suggesting this might be his last time hosting “anything in this country” due to recent changes in Washington.
The comedian took aim at Trump’s immigration policies, joking that Grammy winners were determined by “13,000 members of the Recording Academy and 20 million illegal immigrants”.
His political commentary extended to Trump’s tariffs when discussing Beyoncé’s upcoming tour: “We can’t afford a new tour. Maple syrup is about to be $50”.
Away from his Trump jibes, Noah spent much of his opening monologue and pieces to camera throughout the show pleading for donations from viewers following the devastating LA fires.
The Grammy Awards ceremony doubled as a fundraising event to support those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires that claimed at least 25 lives and left thousands affected.
Direct Relief will provide support to residents, first responders, and local health centres in the affected areas.
The California Community Foundation has committed to aiding more than 100 local non-profits during the crisis.
Additional support will come from the Pasadena Community Foundation, which will assist impacted communities in Altadena and Pasadena.
It wasn’t just Noah who had fans talking during Sunday’s awards do in LA, with Kanye West and his wife Bianca Censori sparking a reaction right from the red carpet.
Censori posed naked on the red carpet with the thinnest of ensembles doing little to cover up the 30-year-old.
During the ceremony itself, there were fierce debates over the likes of Beyonce and The Beatles winning two major awards while Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan also bagged their first Grammys.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Taylor Swift pays hidden nod to Travis Kelce with striking Grammys dress as she attends soloSquid Game actress dies aged 81 just three months after stomach cancer diagnosisBeyonce’s country album Grammys win branded ‘a joke’ as row erupts over ‘disgraceful’ decision
There was also a surprise comeback from The Weeknd following changes implemented by Grammy bosses, despite the singer previously vowing to boycott the awards over a “lack of trust”.