Nicki Minaj blew everyone’s mind over the weekend when she made a a surprise appearance at a political event for Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the conservative movement founded by controversial podcaster Charlie Kirk and now run by his widow, Erika. Reaction hasn’t been kind — but considering Nicki is arguably the biggest living female rapper, things get a bit…complicated.
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On Sunday (Dec. 21), Nicki joined hands with Erika while walking out to her song, “Super Bass,” in front of the TPUSA crowd. “This administration is full of people with heart and soul, and they make me proud of them. Our vice president [JD Vance], he makes me…well, I love both of them,” Minaj told the crowd. “Both of them have a very uncanny ability to be someone that you relate to.”
Nicki has spent her decorated career generally steering clear of politics. But she’s spent weeks slowly aligning herself with President Donald Trump and his conservative allies. Taking the next step by getting dressed up and speaking in front of an organization whose founder openly condemned her just a few months ago is a step most folks — from her fandom and otherwise — weren’t expecting.
It’s a potentially influential move for someone who has such a powerful fanbase, reminiscent of when Taylor Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election.
We previously told you Minaj caught flak after teaming up with UN Ambassador Mike Waltz to address the alleged “genocide” of Christians in Nigeria… despite experts debunking all theories of a targeted genocide, PBS reported. Her fans were quick to call her out over this and her recent attacks against the transgender community.
@YallQunt wrote on X, “If you’re gay, trans, a woman, person of color, an immigrant, lower or middle class and still a fan of Nicki Minaj please go to the deepest pits of HELL.”
“I can’t repeat it enough, Nicki Minaj did nothing for the gay community to earn their undying support. A bunch of gay men just wanted to be her, so they crowned her a gay icon. Meanwhile, she was talking God on the heels of the Pulse mass shooting,” @TrillaryBlinton said. “None of this is surprising.”
Meanwhile, Minaj told the TPUSA crowd she doesn’t see any of the criticism over her MAGA allegiance. “I didn’t notice,” she said on stage. “We don’t even think about them.” Folks on X expressed their disappointment with the rapper. @simisuckss said that we’re all just “watching nicki minaj destroy her legacy over an administration that won’t make it to 2029.”
The “Queen of Rap” also threw shots at California Gov. Gavin Newsom while praising Trump as a “handsome, dashing” example of what a man and a good leader is. “Dear Newscum,” she began. “We don’t have a problem cleaning up the scum if we have to, please tread lightly. That’s what I’d say to Gavie poo.”
She told Kirk on stage, “I have the utmost respect and admiration for our president. I don’t even know if he knows this, but he has 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.”
Many Black folks pointed out that Minaj’s current political allies like Kirk, his wife and TPUSA have a history of being racist towards Black people. “’Black women don’t have the brain processing power…’” the husband of the woman she’s sitting with,” @SummerSarae98 said referencing Kirk. “Such a bird.”
“First Candace Owens, now her. Where’s the grant funding to stop the rightward shift of black women?!?! Where’s Black Women Build,” @eihtbeezy said.
Some people would didn’t support Minaj previously feel justified after she seemingly turned MAGA. @ansamenow tweeted, “5 years of being a Nicki Minaj hater and every year my hatred becomes more vindicated.”
Unsurprisingly, many of Nicki’s “Barbz” fanbase remains content to stand by her side, willing to separate the politics from the music. Considering she’s the most streamed female rapper of all time, her political alignment is unlikely to move the needle much on folks continuing to play her bops.
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