It is unmistakable that Gavin Newsom is not enjoying the support of Nicki Minaj in the 2028 presidential race. The 43-year-old "Anaconda" rapper has taken a hard stance against the Democratic governor of California in response to Newsom's recent support for transgender children. On December 12, Minaj wrote on her X platform, "Imagine being the guy running on wanting to see trans kids, Haha. Not even a trans ADULT would run on that. Normal adults wake up & think they want to see HEALTHY, SAFE, HAPPY kids."
In another X post, Minaj slammed the governor as "the cute boy who got everything handed to him because of how cute & sexy & hot & smoking he was" and suggested he will not be successful if he runs for president in 2028. "He thinks he's Tom Cruise, only the difference is, his next mission IS impossible," she wrote, while sharing an image of the slasher movie villain Chucky. "He should get another leading role."
Newsom, 58, made his comments on "The Ezra Klein Show" in the December 10 episode. The California governor told the host that although he has suggested it's unfair for transgender athletes to compete in women's sports, he is still a supporter of the trans community. "I want to see trans kids," he said. "I have a trans godson. There's no governor who signed more pro-trans legislation than I have, and no one's been a stronger advocate for the LGBTQ [community]."
At the same time, Newsom argued, "You have to accommodate the reality of those whose rights are being taken away as we advance the rights of the trans community, in terms of the fairness of athletic competition. That's not a bigoted position." Newsom added that he has been a victim of "cancel culture" and has lost friendships because of his stance on this issue.
Minaj took aim at Newsom in numerous other posts on X, at one point sharing a fake image depicting him in prison. She also posted "shame on him" several times. Minaj, who recently worked with President Donald Trump's UN ambassador Mike Waltz to speak out about the treatment of Christian people in Nigeria, was the latest star to criticize Newsom.
Oscar-winner Halle Berry recently called out Newsom at The New York Times' DealBook Summit for vetoing Assembly Bill 432, also known as the Menopause Care Equity Act. Berry argued for passing the bill to make it easier for women to access medical treatments addressing the effects of menopause. Newsom, however, called insurance plans covering menopause-related treatments with few limits "too far-reaching," according to Politico. "He's not going to be governor forever, and with the way he has overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us in midlife, he probably should not be our next president, either," she said. "Just saying."
