Highlights
- Nicki Minaj joined Donald Trump at a Michigan rally ahead of the US midterm elections.
- The rapper said Trump had “changed the energy of the country” and given Americans “a future to look forward to”.
- Trump praised Minaj’s appearance after calling her onstage, while she urged voters to support Republican candidates.
Rapper Nicki Minaj has joined US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Michigan, publicly backing his leadership ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Minaj, who has previously described herself as Trump’s “number one fan”, appeared alongside the president in Port Huron on Sunday. She praised his impact on the country and encouraged supporters to help elect Republican candidates.
“He's given us a future to look forward to,” she said, adding that Trump had “changed the energy of the country”.
“We really need all these great people to be elected, because this is a major turning point for our country,” she told the crowd.
Donald Trump calls Nicki Minaj onstage
Minaj, born in Trinidad and Tobago, arrived in Michigan aboard Air Force One with Trump. Wearing a gold-coloured Gucci-branded suit, she joined the president onstage and led the audience in chanting his name and those of Republican candidates in the state.
Trump drew attention to the rapper’s appearance as he invited her to speak.
“She never looked more beautiful,” he said as she left the stage, adding, “She gets it. She's smart.”
Earlier, Trump had made a remark about Minaj’s figure while addressing the crowd. He also praised a male Republican candidate’s appearance before turning his attention to the rapper.
Minaj filmed a video with an aide aboard Air Force One, pretending to interview for the White House press secretary position. The role was vacant at the time of the report, following Katie Zacharia’s departure five days after a public debut described as shaky.
Nicki Minaj’s support for Trump
Minaj has expressed support for Trump on several occasions, despite previously criticising some of his policies during his first term in office.
She has also backed his claims about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and supported his proposed “gold card” visa programme, which offers applicants residency and a pathway to US citizenship.
Her latest appearance comes as Republicans and Democrats campaign ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress for the remainder of Trump’s presidency.
In Michigan, Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is competing against Republican Mike Rogers. Former president Barack Obama campaigned with El-Sayed on Saturday.
During Sunday's rally, Trump focused on El-Sayed’s Muslim faith and background, claiming that the candidate would “invite jihadists” into the United States if elected.
El-Sayed has criticised similar comments as Islamophobic. In a campaign advertisement last week, he accused Trump of using his name and faith to distract voters from the effects of the president’s policies on everyday costs, including fuel, groceries and healthcare.
