Nicki Minaj revealed that it was Gavin Newsom and Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z that spurred her recent support for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
The rapper, 43, said a major turning point in her shift away from the Democrats was the way California Governor Newsom ignored her pleas for a meeting, after her home was ‘swatted’ due to trolls several times.
‘He just completely ignored me, with all the money I spent in taxes,’ the Anaconda hitmaker – who previously called herself Trump’s ‘number one fan’ – said in a new interview with Time.
After Republican congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna offered to help Minaj in 2025, the star began considering going public with her conservative allegiance.
‘I was shocked,’ Minaj said of the assistance she received from Luna, adding, ‘I’d never seen anyone in politics treat me that way.’
Luna helped connect the musician with federal law-enforcement officials and a private security firm.
‘That’s what made me say that I don’t care to keep this a secret anymore,’ she said in regards to her decision of publicly supporting Trump’s MAGA movement.
Nicki Minaj, 43, revealed that it was Gavin Newsom and Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z that spurred her recent support for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party; Minaj seen January
Minaj said she had reservations about speaking out, as she didn’t want to alienate her fans.
‘I felt that way already about him, just that I didn’t dare act like that publicly,’ she said.
‘It’s been ingrained in everyone’s brain in the music business that we are supposed to be a Democratic family. I just knew they would not like me supporting Trump.’
She went on to say that her rap rival Jay-Z also played a part in her political shift.
The pair have been locked in a long feud over her claims that Jay-Z tried to sabotage her career through Roc Nation, his entertainment and sports company.
Minaj said she was disappointed by former Democratic President Barack Obama and his friendship with Jay-Z.
‘I think Jay-Z ended up costing Obama a lot, whether he knows it or not,’ she said.
‘Lots of rappers don’t like Jay-Z and were afraid to say it.’
Minaj also said that a 2024 campaign speech by Obama, where he urged Black men to vote for Kamala Harris, only served to further push her away from the Democratic Party.
The rapper said a turning point in her shift away from the Democrats was the way California Governor Newsom ‘ignored’ her pleas for a meeting, after her home was ‘swatted’; Newsom pictured in 2025
She went on to say that her rap rival Jay-Z also played a part in her political shift. The pair have been locked in a long feud over her claims that Jay-Z tried to sabotage her career; (L-R) Jay-Z, Minaj and Kanye West seen in 2011
Minaj said she was disappointed by former Democratic President Barack Obama and his friendship with Jay-Z. ‘I think Jay-Z ended up costing Obama a lot, whether he knows it or not,’ she said; Obama and Jay-Z pictured in 2012
‘Lots of rappers don’t like Jay-Z and were afraid to say it,’ she added; Jay-Z and wife Beyonce pictured at Obama’s inauguration in 2013
‘I just saw so many videos of Black men saying that they didn’t like the way they felt about that speech that Obama gave. They felt like they weren’t being listened to.’
In recent months Minaj has advocated for Trump and Vice President JD Vance on social media, supported Erika Kirk at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in December 2025, and appeared hand-in-hand onstage with Trump himself at the Trump Accounts Summit in January.
In February, Minaj marked Presidents’ Day with a bizarre tribute to Trump that was quickly roasted by fans.
The star paid homage to the Commander-in-Chief on X by posting two photos that were digitally altered to replace what looked to be her husband, Kenneth Petty, 47, with Trump.
The duo matched in Barbie pink outfits while cruising in a car, with Trump throwing the ‘okay’ symbol up with his hand.
Upon closer inspection, a reflection of Minaj’s husband appeared to be visible in the window behind Trump’s head.
Following her January appearance with Trump, Minaj called herself the president’s ‘number one fan.’
She even sat alongside the president and his wife Melania Trump at the February premiere of the First Lady’s eponymous documentary.
Minaj’s MAGA support has stirred up some conflict among her loyal fanbase, the ‘Barbz.’
She appeared hand-in-hand onstage with Trump himself at the Trump Accounts Summit in January and called herself Trump’s ‘number one fan’
Minaj also met with Erika Kirk, the widow of famous conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk, at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in December 2025
Some have blocked her online or even destroyed her merchandise in protest of her political shift.
Her new stance is a far cry from her past political statements.
In 2018, the rapper criticized Trump’s immigration policies, calling out the administration’s separation of immigrant children from their families in a Facebook post.
‘I came to this country as an illegal immigrant @ 5 years old,’ Minaj wrote in her post. ‘I can’t imagine the horror of being in a strange place and & having my parents stripped away from me at the age of 5. This is so scary to me. Please stop this. Can you try to imagine the terror & panic these kids feel right now?’
Some have suggested that Minaj’s enthusiastic support of Trump may stem from hopes of securing presidential pardons for her husband, who was convicted of attempted rape in the first degree, and her brother, Jelani Maraj, who was convicted of predatory sexual assault and child endangerment.
Democratic strategist Mike Nellis previously posted on X, ‘It’s super f***ing embarrassing watching Nicki Minaj kiss Donald Trump’s a** to get a pardon for her husband and her brother.’
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