President Donald Trump made an unexpected remark about rapper Nicki Minaj’s appearance Sunday at a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, briefly distracting from his midterm campaign message.
After revisiting his recent remarks about outgoing Ohio Republican Senate President Jon Husted’s physique, Trump said, “I looked at his (Husted’s) ass. I’ve never done that with a man before. Unofficially, women, yes. Men, no.”
Trump then turned his attention to Minaj, an ally of the president who traveled aboard Air Force One to attend and speak at the rally.
“By the way, I’ve looked at some pretty damn good ass before,” Trump said before pointing at the rapper: “Nicki Minaj! It’s hard to miss! Stand up. It’s hard to miss.”
As she stood up to the roars of the crowd, the president raised his fist, then concluded: “I’m going to go back to my story. I hope Nicki wasn’t insulted. We love Nicki. She’s been with us a long time.”
Trump’s remarks quickly gained traction on social media.
Conservative commentator Eric Daugherty wrote of X: “Everyone is losing him. There will never be another one like him. ZERO FILTER!!!”
Nick Sortor, a conservative influencer, said on X: “I did NOT see this coming, even though she was in the audience.”
Ron Filipkowski, frequent Trump critic and editor-in-chief of MeidasTouch.com, wrote on X: “We are now at the point where Trump is comparing Jon Husted and Nicki Minaj’s butts.”
Trump’s celebrity-filled campaign
Minaj’s appearance comes amid intense campaigning for Trump, who has spent about 70 hours aboard Air Force One this month, traveling between rallies as he seeks to support Republican candidates ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, according to the Associated Press.
The rapper is also part of a broader effort to bring celebrities into Trump campaign appearances. The AP reported that the White House wants Trump to have a celebrity with him every step of the way as he wraps up his midterm campaign blitz. Other personalities who have traveled with the president include boxing stars Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Evander Holyfield, retired NASCAR champion Richard Petty and influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
While the White House’s efforts to bring celebrities such as Minaj onto the campaign trail are part of a broader strategy, one communications expert said Trump’s off-the-cuff remarks reflect a less calculated element of his political style.
Brian L. Ott, distinguished professor of communications, media, journalism and film at Missouri State University, said: News week Via email Sunday, he said Trump’s “frequent tangents, personal observations and off-the-cuff comments are central to both his communication style and his appeal to his base.”
Ott said his supporters can interpret these moments as “a mark of authenticity,” while Trump’s willingness to break conventional political norms also helps attract attention.
“It should be emphasized that this aspect of the president’s rhetoric is not strategic,” Ott said. “Donald Trump has no filter. He says what he thinks at any given moment.”
Nicki Minaj praises Trump at Michigan rally
Minaj also addressed the Michigan crowd, offering enthusiastic support for Trump and urging voters to support Republican candidates in the state.
“I’m so honored to work with this president,” Minaj said, praising Trump’s “resilience” and saying he had “changed the energy of our country.”
The rapper also urged the crowd to support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers and Republican Congressman John James, chanting their names and describing Michigan as an important battleground for Trump’s political movement.
“We really need all these great people to be elected because this is a major turning point for our country,” Minaj said.
Minaj then addressed transgender issues involving children, saying she didn’t want children to be “bombarded with gender changes” and calling on adults to “leave the kids alone.”
She concluded by pledging her continued support for Trump: “It’s an honor to stand with you every time. And I will continue to support you forever and ever. If you run again, I will support you again.”
Nicki Minaj’s growing alliance with Trump
Minaj is one of the most high-profile artists to publicly align with the president during his second term.
In January, Minaj shared a photo on X showing what the Trump administration calls a “Trump Gold Card,” which officials say offers an expedited path to U.S. residency. As recently as 2024, Minaj publicly stated that she was not an American citizen.
The rapper posted the image on social media with the caption “Welp…” following a Treasury Department event in Washington announcing “Trump Accounts,” a new government-backed savings initiative for newborns.
Speaking at the event, Minaj declared herself “probably the president’s No. 1 fan.” She dismissed the backlash over her support for Trump, saying it only strengthened her resolve.
“Hate or what people have to say doesn’t affect me at all,” Minaj told the audience. “It actually motivates me to support him more.”
In multiple interviews and public appearances, Minaj has explained her support in personal terms rather than political terms. In a February 2026 interview on Katie Miller’s PodcastThe rapper said she was moved by what she described as Trump being “bullied” and subjected to smear campaigns, which she said reflected how she felt treated during her own career.
The change has sparked intense backlash, including from fans who say they feel alienated by her political views, while others have indicated that Minaj’s political activity influenced them to vote Republican.
Earlier Sunday, White House communications director Steven Cheung released a video interviewing Minaj aboard Air Force One as the president flew to Michigan. Minaj praised Trump during the exchange.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I think we may have found the new White House Press Secretary! @NICKIMINAJ,” Cheung wrote alongside the video.
The White House responded on X with an “eyes” emoji. Minaj then responded with an American flag emoji and a smiley face with a sweaty emoji.
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