In a remarkable political pivot, global rap superstar Nicki Minaj made an unexpected appearance at a major conservative conference in the United States, where she lavished praise on President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
A Surprise Endorsement at AmericaFest
The Trinidadian-born artist took to the stage at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest 2025 in Arizona on Sunday 21 December 2025. She was interviewed by Erika Kirk, the widow of the organisation's late founder, Charlie Kirk, whom the event was memorialising.
During the conversation, Minaj described President Trump as "handsome" and "dashing," and labelled both him and Vance as crucial "role models" for young men. She directly contrasted them with California Governor Gavin Newsom, using the derogatory nickname "New-scum" popularised by Trump himself.
From Critic to Supporter
This endorsement marks a stark reversal from Minaj's previous stance. In 2018, she was among numerous celebrities who publicly condemned the Trump administration's zero-tolerance immigration policy. That policy resulted in the separation of more than 5,000 children from their families at the Mexico border.
At the time, Minaj, who arrived in the US aged five, shared her personal story on Instagram, describing herself as an "illegal immigrant" and pleading, "This is so scary to me. Please stop this." On Sunday, however, she defended her change of heart, simply stating, "it's OK to change your mind."
Defying Backlash and Defining 'The Cool Kids'
Minaj told the audience she was tired of being "pushed around" and suggested that voicing divergent opinions had become controversial because "people are no longer using their minds." Erika Kirk, who now leads Turning Point USA, thanked the rapper for her "courageous" stance despite anticipated backlash from the entertainment industry.
Minaj claimed to be unaware of any criticism, quipping, "We don't even think about them." When Kirk added they were too busy building, Minaj concluded with a defiant, "We're the cool kids."
The Grammy-nominated artist, famed for hits like 'Super Freaky Girl' and 'Anaconda', used her platform to emphatically align herself with the conservative movement, signalling a significant cultural moment at the close of 2025.
