“Fk… fk heerrrr. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time,” Billy Porter told a Hollywood Unlocked reporter while reacting to Nicki Minaj’s public support of Donald Trump on the red carpet at MusiCares’ 2026 Person of the Year Gala.
Porter didn’t hold back, making it clear he felt her shift was wrong before the interviewer could even finish the question. He suggested there may be an ulterior motive behind her sudden support for Trump. “The people want their paper (money),” while also pointing out that Trump didn’t pardon Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Porter’s comment about Combs seemingly echoed speculation from critics who believe Minaj’s political switch-up may be about getting in Trump’s good graces for strategic reasons. Porter didn’t go into detail about who he meant by “the people wanting their paper.”
Either way, Porter made it clear he isn’t a fan of Nicki’s move.
Minaj has been increasingly public with her support for Trump in recent months. She praised him during an onstage interview with Erika Kirk, the widow of right-wing figure Charlie Kirk, at last month’s AmericaFest, a Turning Point USA event.
Minaj was also invited to speak at the United Nations after responding to a tweet in November about attacks on Christian Nigerians. Additionally, she called herself Trump’s “number one fan” during the January 28th Trump Account Summit and attended First Lady Melania Trump’s documentary premiere at the Trump Kennedy Center.
