Rap icon Nicki Minaj has openly declared her support for US President Donald Trump, calling herself his “number one fan” and saying that criticism directed at him has only strengthened her backing.
Trump invited the singer on stage after Minaj voiced her support for “Trump Accounts”, a policy initiative that provides trust funds for children.
“I will say that I am probably the president’s number one fan, and that’s not going to change,” Minaj said as she appeared on stage wearing a white fur coat and embracing the president.
She added that public criticism and hostility toward Trump did not affect her negatively. “The hate or what people have to say does not affect me at all. In fact, it motivates me to support him even more,” she said.
The 43-year-old artist also said she would not allow Trump’s critics to “get away with bullying him and smear campaigns”, adding that she believed divine protection was behind his leadership.
“He has a lot of force behind him, and God is protecting him. Amen,” she said.
Trump, who earlier joked about growing out his nails to emulate the rapper, later held Minaj’s hand as another speaker addressed the audience.
Often referred to as the “Queen of Rap”, Minaj is known for her evolving musical and fashion styles, as well as a noticeable shift in her political stance in recent years.
Once a critic of Trump’s hardline immigration policies, she has increasingly praised his leadership. In November, Minaj made a surprise appearance at the United Nations, where she called for an end to faith-based persecution in Nigeria — an allegation raised by the Trump administration and denied by the Nigerian government.
