Nicki Minaj reveals how Jay-Z, others pushed her to support Trump

Rapper Nicki Minaj has revealed that California Governor Gavin Newsom and rapper Jay-Z played pivotal roles in her recent shift towards the Republican Party and her vocal support for President Donald Trump.

In a detailed interview with Time, the 43-year-old artist said a turning point came when her repeated requests for a meeting with Newsom were ignored, despite several ‘swatting’ incidents at her home caused by online trolls. “He just completely ignored me, with all the money I spent in taxes,” Minaj said, adding that the experience influenced her decision to publicly embrace Trump and conservative politics.

Minaj credited Republican congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna for helping her navigate the situation in 2025, connecting her with federal law-enforcement officials and a private security firm. “I’d never seen anyone in politics treat me that way,” she said, explaining that this support encouraged her to openly declare her political stance.

The rapper also cited longstanding tensions with Jay-Z, husband of Beyoncé, as contributing to her political shift. She claimed Jay-Z attempted to undermine her career through his company Roc Nation and expressed disappointment over his friendship with former President Barack Obama. Minaj further noted that Obama’s 2024 campaign speech urging Black men to vote for Kamala Harris deepened her distance from the Democratic Party. “Lots of rappers don’t like Jay-Z and were afraid to say it,” she added.

In recent months, Minaj has actively 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 at the Trump Accounts Summit in January. In February, she marked Presidents’ Day with a digitally altered tribute featuring Trump, which quickly drew criticism from fans. She has publicly referred to herself as the president’s “number one fan” and sat alongside Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the premiere of her documentary.

Her MAGA support has sparked controversy among her fanbase, the ‘Barbz,’ with some blocking her online or destroying merchandise in protest. The shift contrasts sharply with her past statements, including a 2018 Facebook post condemning Trump’s immigration policies, where she wrote about the terror of immigrant children being separated from their families.

Speculation has also arisen that Minaj’s support for Trump may be motivated by hopes of securing presidential pardons for her husband, Kenneth Petty, and her brother, Jelani Maraj, both of whom have prior convictions. Democratic strategist Mike Nellis criticised the rapper on social media, describing her alignment with Trump as politically motivated.

Minaj said she initially hesitated to speak out, concerned that publicly supporting Trump would alienate fans. “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 said.