President Donald Trump praised rapper Nicki Minaj during a White House lunch on Monday, calling her “so hot” and “so respected”. The 80-year-old president made the comments at a Rose Garden patio event, referring to the 43-year-old singer as a “great friend of common sense”.
Trump’s remarks came as he ranted about Democratic Socialists and Communism before turning his attention to Minaj. “She’s a fantastic person and she’s a woman that’s respected by everybody, and she’s got real talent,” he said, according to reports.
Minaj shared photos and videos of her visit on social media, including one of her posing next to an autopen Trump installed in place of a portrait of former President Joe Biden. “Whoa!!!! #WhiteHouseBarbie with her favorite President of all time!!!” she wrote.
The rapper has become a regular in Trump’s orbit, declaring herself his “No. 1 fan” in January. She previously visited the White House in January to promote Trump Accounts, children’s investment accounts. Trump also commented on her skin and nails during a February address.
Minaj, who is a legal permanent resident of the US for about 20 years, claimed to have received a “Trump Gold Card” free of charge. The flashy card, which provides a fast track to citizenship for a $1 million donation, turned out to be a meaningless memento.
Her outspoken support for Trump has alienated many fans, though she has explained it by saying she felt sympathy for the way he was treated. “When I saw how he was being treated over and over and over, I just couldn’t handle it,” she said in February.
