Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance at Sunday’s Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona. The highlighted moment was public appraisal and support for President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, marking a noticeable shift in her political stance. Erika Kirk, the widow of late activist and TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, conducted an onstage interview with the “Beez in the Trap” rapper.
Minaj, whose real name is Onika Maraj-Petty, shared her newfound admiration she developed for Trump after witnessing what she described as relentless media scrutiny and widespread misinformation. The 43-year-old artist emphasized that Trump is a human being with a family and praised his willingness to confront what she called “the bad guys” without fear.
“I have the utmost respect and admiration for our president,” Minaj said. “He’s given so many people hope—that there’s a chance to beat the bad guys, and to win, and to do it with your head held high and your integrity intact.”
Minaj drew parallels between herself and Trump, noting that both are from Queens, New York, and said his resilience in the worst time in his life and in the face of public attacks has personally inspired her.
“Having constantly been lied on. It’s not really that funny until you are in that person’s shoes that’s being lied on; you’ll never understand what it feels like. That person is a human being. That person has a family who has to read those lies, and it’s just not fair.”
She also praised the Trump administration, referring to them as being “full of people with heart and soul,” and Vance for remaining connected to everyday Americans, saying their authenticity makes her proud to be American.
The discussion included a lighthearted but awkward moment when Minaj attempted to praise Vance’s political instincts but mistakenly referred to him as an “assassin.” After a brief pause in noticing her choice of words, Kirk brushed off the moment, joking, “If the internet wants to clip it, who cares? I love this woman. She’s an amazing woman. She has a soul and a heart for the Lord. And words are words, but I know her heart, and it doesn’t even matter. And you say what you want because I know your heart.”
During the interview, Kirk referenced Minaj’s recent social media criticism of California Gov. Gavin Newsom over his support for gender-affirming care for minors, where she read her tweets aloud in response to her rant against Newsom on the X platform. The discussion included a lighthearted but awkward moment when Minaj attempted to praise Vance’s political instincts but mistakenly referred to him as an “assassin.” After a brief pause, Kirk brushed off the moment, joking, “If the internet wants to clip it, who cares? I love this woman.”
The incident was not the first time Minaj has referred to the vice president as an “assassin.” On December 11, she shared an image of Chucky from the film Child’s Play and wrote: “Top-tier comedy character = 100. But make no mistake, Vance is an assassin. Don’t debate him. On anything. Quick as a computer—maybe quicker. He’s the best blend I’ve ever seen of us and them.”
Vance later responded to the post (now deleted) with humor, joking that he had wondered whether Minaj thought he resembled a viral JD Vance meme. He added that he was honored she recognized him in person.
Following her AmericaFest appearance, Waltz praised Minaj on social media for her courage and character, tweeting that he was “so PROUD to be the Barbz Ambassador!”
Last month, Minaj reshared a post from Trump on his Truth Social platform addressing potential sanctions against Nigeria over the persecution of Christians. She later wrote on X that the message made her grateful for the freedom to worship in the United States. Her comments led to an invitation to speak on a panel at the U.S. mission to the United Nations alongside Ambassador Mike Waltz and faith leaders.
Minaj said she has grown tired of being silenced and argued that expressing differing viewpoints has become controversial because “people are no longer using their minds.” Kirk thanked her for speaking out despite backlash from the entertainment industry.
Minaj’s support for Trump represents a significant evolution in her political stance. In a 2015 Billboard interview, she said some of Trump’s points were valid but criticized his delivery as “childish.” In 2016, her song “Black Barbies” referenced Trump’s immigration rhetoric, and she previously highlighted what she viewed as gender-based double standards involving him in her 2010 documentary, My Time Now. In 2018, she joined other celebrities in condemning Trump’s zero-tolerance immigration policy that separated families at the U.S.-Mexico border, sharing her experience of immigrating to the United States at age five and describing herself at the time as undocumented.
In 2020, Minaj said she would not “jump on the Trump bandwagon,” frequently criticizing his immigration policies. Despite this history, she now says reevaluating one’s beliefs is a sign of growth.
“It’s OK to change your mind,” she said.
