Nicki Minaj has been causing concern among many of her fans by aligning herself with the Trump administration in recent months. In November, she shared a post by Donald Trump about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria and agreed to collaborate with the administration on awareness around the issue.
In December, she made a surprise appearance at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest convention, where she praised the late Charlie Kirk and Vice-President JD Vance. During a conversation with Erika Kirk, Charlie's widow, Minaj accidentally called Vance an “assassin”, but was quickly forgiven. “I love this woman,” Erika Kirk said after the gaffe.
Two online petitions calling for Minaj to be deported have gathered more than 120,000 signatures. Minaj came to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago as an undocumented child and has previously been outspoken about Trump's hardline immigration policies, even rapping about them in 2016: “Island girl, Donald Trump want me go home.”
Speculation about her motives includes the possibility that she might seek a presidential pardon for her husband, Kenneth Petty, a registered sex offender, and her brother, a child rapist. However, Trump cannot erase state convictions, making this theory unlikely. Alternatively, she may be playing a long game, recognising that aligning with Trump could be a lucrative career move despite losing some fans.
