There’s an unspoken rule in Hollywood: keep your politics quiet, especially if they veer right. But Nicki Minaj, 43, has decided that rule no longer applies to her.
In a Wednesday, May 13 interview with TIME, the rap icon revealed that she believes plenty of her peers secretly share her pro-Trump stance—they’re just too afraid to say it out loud.“Many celebrities feel the way I do, but they don’t say it,”Minaj explained, positioning herself as willing to take the heat that others won’t.“Sometimes you just need one brave person to get the brunt of the impact. I think I am the catalyst for that change.”It’s a bold claim, and one that hinges on a specific moment: her public pivot to openly supporting President Donald Trump, 79, after he took office for a nonconsecutive second term in 2024.
Minaj’s journey to this point wasn’t instantaneous. She’d harbored frustrations with the Democratic establishment for years—particularly after witnessing Black men voice disappointment with former president Barack Obama’s 2024 speech campaigning for Kamala Harris to be elected POTUS.“They felt like they weren’t being listened to,”she recalled. But she kept those views private, knowing the music industry expected her to fall in line.“It’s been ingrained in everyone’s brain in the music business that we are supposed to be a Democratic family. I just knew they would not like me supporting Trump.”
The turning point came in 2025 after her home became the target of multiple alleged swatting attacks. That’s when congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna stepped in with support—a gesture that shocked Minaj.“I was shocked. I’d never seen anyone in politics treat me that way,”she said.“That’s what made me say that I don’t care to keep this a secret anymore.”Since then, she’s been visible: speaking at the UN, appearing at Turning Point USA events, and even meeting Trump himself.“I am probably the President’s No. 1 fan,”she declared during a January speech.
Now, Minaj is signaling she’s all in for 2026. She’s willing to campaign during the upcoming midterm elections and has become a vocal advocate for the Trump administration. And when asked about her own happiness, she tied it directly to this newfound openness:“I’ve never felt happier. I’ve never felt better. When you can be yourself, you’re happier.”
Whether her bet on inspiring other celebrities to follow suit actually pays off remains to be seen. But Minaj’s clearly banking on the idea that breaking an unspoken rule can be liberating—and contagious.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.