Once famously known as the Queen of Rap, Trinidadian artist Nicki Minaj states she is “Trump’s number one fan,” appearing in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Trump Accounts Summit.
The President invited Minaj to join him on stage in Washington, D.C., after she publicly expressed her backing of the initiative known as “Trump Accounts,” a program that sets up trust funds for children.
Although she had once spoken out against Trump’s strict immigration stance, the performer (who immigrated to the U.S. as a young child with her family) has recently voiced admiration for his leadership.
With her recent acknowledgements and actions, her community, known as BARBZ, are in an uproar of disappointment and no longer consider themselves fans.
Minaj having such uniqueness and talent in a male-dominated field attracted a large, diverse audience in 2011 after her hit ‘Super Bass.’ Thus, her fandom became worldwide, including young girls, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
However, she also attended Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Arizona, speaking with Erika Kirk, the wife of the deceased co-founder Charlie Kirk.
Minaj spoke on several points, revealing her political beliefs, such as her admiration for Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, criticism towards California Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying,
“Boys will be boys. It’s okay, be boys. There is nothing wrong with being a boy. How about that? How powerful is that? How profound is that?”
Her posts on X afterwards appeared to target gay and transgender individuals, leaving much of her fanbase feeling confused, as she was once an ally.
Freshman political science student and ally, Denae McDowell, once a part of the fandom, said, “I’m disappointed because I used to enjoy Nicki Minaj’s music. Not only is she ruining her career, but also turning on her supporters who are in the LGBTQ community, and they definitely do not support Trump.”
Multiple controversies have spiraled since Minaj’s political shift, leading to her demise. Pop artist Lizzo spoke out with a broad perspective, denouncing celebrities’ opinions. Lizzo stated,
“My opinions about her do not matter. But what I know is that you’re about to see an influx of people who think it is more profitable and beneficial to join a side. It’s already started, and it’s going to continue. This is his (Trump’s) first year as president.”
She continued to say, “We have three more years. People are going to surprise you, and it’s going to hurt your feelings. You have to know that there’s money behind everything.”
Lizzo suggests some public figures may be motivated more by financial gain and public attention than by genuine political belief, to which she is not surprised.
Joe Budden, former rapper and host of The Joe Budden Network, made a strong claim in an episode, “wiping his hands clean of Minaj”. He said,
“I’m out. I’m done. That was it. Sorry, I’m gone. That was the last candle on the cake for me. Sorry, Barbz; sorry, Nicki. Don’t call me. Don’t text me. It is what it is. Sometimes, how you move around does have an effect on how I view you. This was one of those things. I’d be a fool to think that you didn’t consider that before you did it.”
Similarly, freshman fashion merchandising and design student Trinity Webb stated how she couldn’t believe people could still support Nicki Minaj and how she stopped liking the artist many months ago.
Webb shared, “To be honest, I stopped liking her after she mocked Megan Thee Stallion for being shot. It goes to show how she just says whatever to get attention. With this, I just think it’s stupid because Trump is trying to get rid of immigrants, and she is an immigrant too.”
The feud between Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj happened in 2024 after Megan released “Hiss,” which many believed contained subtle shots at Minaj and friends.
She says, “So, the concept of supporting someone who is deliberately trying to eliminate people like herself… it’s mind-boggling to me.”
Minaj responded with the diss track “Bigfoot,” where she mocked Megan over the 2020 shooting incident that left Megan injured.
Many listeners felt the attack crossed a line, arguing that bringing up a traumatic event was unnecessary and “cheap”.
The backlash was immediate, with critics calling Minaj’s response mean-spirited rather than competitive.
As a result, “Bigfoot” not only deepened the feud but caused her to lose supporters who felt she had wronged Megan.
Recent political endorsements and controversial statements have significantly shifted public perception of the once-celebrated artist.
As backlash continues to grow, it appears Minaj may have brought about her own downfall, leaving her future in the industry uncertain.
