Nicki Minaj Details Public Trump Endorsement in Time Interview

Rapper Nicki Minaj detailed her shift from quiet support for President Donald Trump to public endorsement in a recent Time magazine interview conducted at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The 43-year-old artist, who declared herself Trump's "number one fan" in January, described longstanding frustrations with Democratic figures and industry expectations that delayed her outspokenness. "I felt that way already about him, just that I didnt dare act like that publicly," Minaj said. "Its been ingrained in everyones brain in the music business that we are supposed to be a Democratic family. I just knew they would not like me supporting Trump."

Several experiences accelerated her decision to go public. Minaj cited former President Barack Obama's friendship with rapper Jay-Z, with whom she has a professional rivalry stemming from allegations that his Roc Nation label sought to hinder her career. She claimed the association alienated parts of the hip-hop community. "I think JayZ ended up costing Obama a lot, whether he knows it or not," Minaj said. "Lots of rappers dont like JayZ and were afraid to say it."

Obama's 2024 campaign speech for Kamala Harris also factored in, in which he...