Nicki Minaj’s role in Trump’s political circle divides fans

( NewsNation ) — Nicki Minaj appeared alongside President Donald Trump at a rally in Michigan over the weekend, highlighting her growing role in his political circle.

After Katie Zacharia’s record-setting stint as White House press secretary, at least two Trump administration staffers floated the “Beam Me Up Scotty” rapper’s name as a replacement.

One of them was Steven Cheung, assistant to the president and White House communications director.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I think we may have found the new White House Press Secretary! @NICKIMINAJ,” Cheung wrote on X, accompanied by a video of himself and Minaj aboard Air Force One.

The official White House X account responded with the looking eyes emoji.

Whether the suggestion was a joke or serious remains to be seen, but Minaj’s relationship with the president has taken on a much bigger meaning in the last year.

Nicki Minaj’s relationship with Trump evolved

In 2020, during his first term, Minaj told Rolling Stone she would not “jump on the Donald Trump bandwagon,” criticizing his handling of immigration.

“I don’t like that. I get that a lot of people don’t like him for obvious reasons. But, what stuck with me was the children being taken away from their parents when they came into this country,” the “Chun-Li” performer said. “That really bothered me because I was one of those immigrant children coming to America to flee poverty.”

However, in recent years she’s become a vocal supporter of Trump.

In November 2025, Minaj reposted an official White House TikTok video, publicizing the president’s successes since he retook office, including fighting against transgender women in female sports.

She later backed Trump after he claimed that Christians in Nigeria were persecuted and later made a speech at the United Nations on the administration’s behalf regarding the claim.

At Sunday’s Michigan rally, where Trump commented on the “Anaconda” rapper’s butt, Minaj said she’d support him if he were to run for office again.

Under the Constitution, Trump cannot run for a third term. Additionally, Minaj cannot vote because she is not a U.S. citizen.

Minaj’s career is partially fueled by her fanbase, nicknamed “Barbz,” many of whom are members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Following her very public support of Trump, including echoing talking points some fans deemed transphobic, some of her fans condemned their once favorite rapper.

After her fans slammed her for supporting Trump over his Truth Social post claiming Christian discrimination in Nigeria, Minaj clapped back, saying her post of support was taken the wrong way.

“[N]icki as a diehard fan, who genuinely sticks besides you through every single scandal, you cozying up to this f—— loser, [I] might actually have to tap out. we live in a country that wants to weaponize religion so YOUR GAY FANS can be pushed into a corner and silenced,” one of her fans wrote on social media , according to Attitude .

“Imagine hearing that Christians are being MURDERED & making it about you being gay,” she replied.

“Imagine hearing that Christians are being persecuted & not being able to have empathy for THEM b/c you are blinded by your own personal obsession with Trump,” she wrote. “This says more about you than him, my darling.”

Despite many of her fans’ disappointment, some “Barbz” still support the chart-topping rapper.

“Barbz, y’all are doing amazing! In a society full of hate and division, supporting Nicki Minaj is reminding people to see past political differences and see the human in one another, one of her fans wrote on X in January . “It was always supposed to be this way. Politicians come & go. They’re not celebrities and they’re not Gods.”

Minaj is part of a growing list of celebrities who openly support the president, including Roseanne Barr , Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone and Kid Rock.

However, Minaj’s social media presence dwarfs Trump’s other famous supporters. The rapper has nearly 27 million followers on X, while Kid Rock has a combined 3.2 million followers across Instagram and X.

Minaj has urged her fans to vote Republican in the midterm elections.