In a surprising political turn, global rap superstar Nicki Minaj made an unexpected appearance at a major Republican convention, where she lauded former President Donald Trump as a 'role model' but subsequently caused profound awkwardness with a severe verbal misstep.
Surprise Endorsement at Conservative Gathering
The incident unfolded on Saturday, 21st December 2025, at the Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference in Arizona. Minaj, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, arrived hand-in-hand with Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk, who was assassinated in September, founded the Turning Point USA organisation, which his widow now leads.
During an on-stage interview, the 43-year-old artist expressed her newfound support for Trump and his administration, a stark reversal from her past criticisms. "This administration is full of people with heart and soul, and they make me proud of them," Minaj told the gathered crowd. She added, "Our vice president, he makes me ... well, I love both of them. Both of them have a very uncanny ability to be someone that you relate to."
The Cringeworthy 'Assassin' Slip-Up
The event took a deeply uncomfortable turn when Minaj, attempting to describe Vice President JD Vance's political style, referred to him as an "assassin." The remark was made directly in front of Erika Kirk, whose husband was murdered just months prior.
According to reports, a palpable tension fell over the room. Minaj appeared to freeze, immediately regretting her choice of words, and placed a hand over her mouth. The audience murmured as Erika Kirk was seen wiping a tear from her eye. Despite the horrific gaffe, Kirk handled the moment with notable grace, telling the audience, "If the internet wants to clip it, who cares? I love this woman."
Political Shift and Backlash
Minaj's appearance marks a significant political pivot. Last month, the Trinidadian-born star took to social media to reveal her support for Trump, specifically sharing his post about Christian persecution in Nigeria. "Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. This led to an invitation to speak on a panel at the US mission to the United Nations.
This stance contrasts sharply with her position in 2018, when she condemned Trump's zero-tolerance immigration policy that separated thousands of children from their families. At the time, she shared her own story of arriving in the US at age five, describing herself as an "illegal immigrant."
At the AmericaFest event, Minaj stated she was tired of being "pushed around" and claimed that speaking one's mind is now controversial because "people are no longer using their minds." Erika Kirk thanked her for being "courageous" in the face of expected backlash from the entertainment industry, to which Minaj replied, "I didn't notice."
The convention also saw Erika Kirk endorse JD Vance for a potential future White House run, though he has not yet declared his candidacy for the next election.
