Nicki Minaj received an unexpected shout-out from Donald Trump this week while attending a White House luncheon, when the president referred to her as “so hot” while announcing her attendance at the event.
The 43-year-old MAGA convert and self-proclaimed “No. 1 fan” of Trump was at the White House Rose Garden Club luncheon on Monday when Trump shared what he thought of her appearance, sandwiching the compliment between multiple accolades.
“We also have a woman that is so respected and so hot and so great and such a great friend of — I don’t say conservative, I say of common sense,” Trump said while introducing the rap superstar. “She’s a fantastic person, and she’s a woman that’s respected by everybody, and she’s got real talent: Nicki Minaj.”
But Trump didn’t stop there. Later in his 35-minute speech, which veered into and out of several topics, including democratic socialism and the Small Business Administration, Minaj came back up.
“They call it small business, Nicki, but when you add it up, it’s bigger than any bank in the world, probably, right?” Trump said.
Since the lunch on Monday, several users online have called out Trump’s comment, calling it “gross” and “inappropriate.” X user @stillwater4u wrote: “When a woman’s value in a political interaction is framed around her looks instead of her intellect or convictions, it reinforces the idea that she’s being viewed as a prop rather than an equal participant.”
https://x.com/stillwater4u/status/2074171613449203728
The online reaction to the comment on her appearance didn’t seem to bother the rap icon too much. Using the “#WhiteHouseBarbie” hashtag, she shared her day at 1600 on X, notably with the autopen picture that Trump used to replace a portrait of President Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in the 2020 presidential election.
Minaj’s MAGA turn took many by surprise. Since Trump was reelected, she has spoken in support of the administration’s new paid visa for foreign nationals, which costs $1 million plus a $15,000 processing fee (and a deep background check); sung his praises while addressing the United Nations about religious violence in Nigeria; and complimented him at a Turning Point USA event, calling him “handsome” and “dashing.”
The rapper, who is from Trinidad and Tobago, was deeply critical of the first Trump administration’s immigration policies. Yet she made an inexplicable about-face at the beginning of Trump 2.0, seemingly going full MAGA.
Rumors have persisted that Minaj is seeking a pardon from Trump for a family member or members. Lil Wayne, her Young Money mentor, received a full pardon from Trump on his way out of office in 2021 after a weapons charge was set to put him behind bars for years. White House officials have dismissed claims that Minaj sought a pardon.
“A pardon for family members has never been brought up or even referenced by her or anybody. Such a favor hasn’t been discussed, and Trump’s federal pardon power wouldn’t extend to state convictions,” the White House said last month.
