On a Sunday evening, the enigmatic Nicki Minaj made an unexpected appearance at a gathering of conservative-minded individuals in Arizona, honoring the late activist Charlie Kirk. She took the stage to shower praises on President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, dubbing them "role models" for young men.
During her interview with Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest convention, Minaj discussed her newfound support for Trump, a politician she had previously condemned, and her actions denouncing violence against Christians in Nigeria. Her recent alignment with the Make America Great Again movement has captured attention due to her past criticisms of Trump, even as her political ideology remained elusive.
Minaj mocked California Governor Gavin Newsom, referring to him as "New-scum," a nickname bestowed by Trump. Despite Newsom being a Democrat with 2028 prospects, Minaj expressed her admiration for the Republican president and Vance, who received an endorsement from Erika Kirk despite not having announced his presidential aspirations.
As she praised Vance's political skills, Minaj stumbled upon an awkward moment when she described him as an "assassin." She paused, seemingly regretting her choice of words, and after Erika appeared to wipe a tear from her eye, the artist covered her mouth while the crowd murmured.
Erika Kirk, who lost her husband in September when he was assassinated, said, "If the internet wants to clip it, who cares? I love this woman."
Last month, Minaj shared a message posted by Trump on his Truth Social network about potential actions to sanction Nigeria, where the government is failing to rein in the persecution of Christians. Experts and residents agree that the violence plaguing Nigeria is not so easily explained. "Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude," Minaj shared. She was then invited to speak at a panel at the U.S. mission to the United Nations alongside U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and faith leaders.
Minaj expressed her disdain for being "pushed around" and said that speaking your mind with different ideas is controversial because "people are no longer using their minds." Erika thanked Minaj for her "courageous" stance despite the backlash she is receiving from the entertainment industry for expressing support for Trump. "I didn't notice," Minaj replied. "We don't even think about them." Erika then said, "We don't have time to. We're too busy building, right?"
The Trinidadian-born rapper is best known for her hits "Super Freaky Girl," "Anaconda," and "Starships." She has been nominated for 12 Grammy Awards over the course of her career. In 2018, Minaj was one of several celebrities condemning Trump's zero-tolerance immigration policy that separated more than 5,000 children from their families at the Mexico border. She shared her own story of arriving to the country at 5 years old, describing herself as an "illegal immigrant."
On Sunday, standing alongside Erika Kirk, Minaj said, "it's OK to change your mind."
