From being a guest on RuPaul’s Drag Race to Turning Point USA conferences
Nicki Minaj started out as a sparkly, pink-haired woman from Trinidad and Tobago. She sang songs that were fun and as bright as the cover of her album, Pink Friday. Her vibrant hair and good vibes attracted a large fanbase who enjoyed her rapping skills and her clever verses. Songs like “Super Bass,” “Starships,” “Anaconda,” and more would not only climb to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, but they would also be well-received by the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. She was named a gay icon by Black Entertainment Television (BET), and you would be hard-pressed to find a Pride event that did not have Minaj in the playlist. She supported multiple charities fighting HIV/AIDs and was a vocal advocate for women’s rights and the gay community. She criticized Republican President Donald Trump in 2016 during his first election, stating to Billboard in 2015 that even if she may agree with some of his politics, he was “too childish” for her to support. However, something has changed in the decade since this statement.
Minaj has gone from criticizing Trump to proclaiming that she is his “no. 1 fan” and funding hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of the Trump Accounts program. Even more hypocritical is her appearance at AmericaFest 2025, a Turning Point USA event, an organization that advocates in support of traditional republican and Christian values. The founder and former president, Charlie Kirk, was heavily critical of women’s rights and feminism, specifically abortion rights, and opposed the Black Lives Matter movement, gay marriage, and trans rights. At said event, Minaj offended the 2SLGBTQIA+ community by criticizing trans people, saying, “boys, stay boys.” However, in 2020, Minaj appeared as a guest judge for the premiere of Season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, a show that has platformed trans performers like Peppermint, Gia Gunn, and Monica Beverly Hillz, who came out during the second episode of season five. This statement ostracized her from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and resulted in the loss of many 2SLGBTQIA+ fans. After this statement, Minaj lost millions of followers on Instagram, which led to her deactivating her account. Her aesthetic has drastically changed as well. Gone is the pink hair, bright looks, and fun and revealing clothing. Now, we see Minaj in dark, conservative clothes.
Minaj had previously been vocal about her support of women, relating to Hillary Clinton’s struggles as a female politician and during her 2019 tour, she canceled her stop in Saudi Arabia to highlight her support for women’s rights, gay rights, and general freedom of expression. Minaj even revealed she had an abortion at age 16, and stated that while it “haunted her,” she simply “wasn’t ready” for that life, and stated she was pro-choice in a Billboard interview. Minaj’s current support for Turning Point USA is incredibly hypocritical in this matter. Turning Point USA condemns abortions and aligns with the growing popularity of the traditional housewife role amongst modern social media influencers, encouraging traditional marriage values.
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Minaj’s support for Trump is the fact she is someone who illegally immigrated to America. Since Trump won his second election near the close of 2024, there has been an increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainment. This has led to protests across the country, especially concerning the murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two Minneapolis residents shot to death by ICE agents. Minaj illegally immigrated to the United States and is currently finalizing her citizenship documentation. In another world, Minaj could have been one of the many victims being deported or murdered by ICE.