Nicki Minaj is addressing criticism the rapper has received over her steadfast support of President Donald Trump and his administration.
“I am honored to be able to have an opportunity to work with this administration and to work with President Trump. He has inspired many people, not just me. And he’s — he’s fun,” Minaj, real name Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, said on Friday, September 18, while appearing on FOX News Channel’s The Ingraham Angle, hosted by Laura Ingraham.
“He’s not just smart, and, you know, he’s not just the president,” the rapper continued. “But he’s also someone that I can relate to, someone that, you know, every time I see him, or every time I see him speaking to other people, he’s just himself. He’s very — he’s very grounded. It’s easy to connect with him. It’s easy to feel like he heard you, he understands you. And I just — I just love him. And I’m not going to ever make excuses for that.”
When asked if she had anything to “say to the critics of you for working with the sitting U.S. President,” Minaj, 43, quickly responded, “Absolutely nothing.”
“I don’t know why I should,” she added.
Minaj has been a fierce advocate of Trump, 80, since he took office for a nonconsecutive second term 2024, telling TIME in a May 13 profile that she was disappointed by former president Barack Obama’s two-term presidency and had been frustrated that Black performers were often expected to vote for democratic candidates.
“Many celebrities feel the way I do, but they don’t say it,” Minaj told the outlet at the time. “Sometimes you just need one brave person to get the brunt of the impact. I think I am the catalyst for that change.”
Thanks to her close personal relationship and friendship with the president — Minaj told TIME she is the president’s “No 1. fan” — Minaj is set to return to the world of reality TV as a judge for the president’s latest project, The Million Dollar Pitch Competition.
“This is a major, MAJOR KEY,” Minaj wrote via X on August 31, confirming her involvement in the reality series competition. “Sooooooooooo looking forward to this!!! Imagine being a part of the Trump Administration’s initiative to support small businesses. Let’s GO!!!!!!!!!!”
According to the United States Small Business Administration, The Million Dollar Pitch Competition will give away prizes from a $1 million cash pool to five entrepreneurs pitching their small business models to possible investors.
The five finalists “represent the best of American ingenuity, know-how and grit while representing the vital contributions of small businesses in local communities across America’s industrial base,” SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said in a press release.
Us confirmed that Minaj will join entrepreneur Grant Cardone and U.S. Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia to judge the final round of competition. Actor Dean Cain will also host the event, scheduled to take place on Friday, September 18, in Washington, D.C.
“And no, I will not be on stage lecturing anyone,” Minaj told Ingraham, 63, of how she plans to conduct herself when she finally goes back on tour — eventually. “I will be on stage trying to have fun and remind people how blessed we are to live in this country and to remind people how blessed we are to wake up healthy and — and in our right minds every day, and how much we take for granted.”
She continued, “I love performing because that’s like the only time when all of us are in this big place and we don’t have a care in the world, we’re making memories, and we’ll never forget those memories … And I don’t want any more questions about concerts. I’m in my businesswoman era.”
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