*Nicki Minaj is facing renewed scrutiny after publicly praising Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, comments that sparked backlash from fans and reignited debate about her long-term career prospects.
The rapper appeared at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix alongside Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, where she described Trump and Vance as “people with heart and soul.” The remarks triggered outrage online, including viral petitions calling for Minaj to be deported to Trinidad. As criticism intensified, PR expert Megan Dooley warned the fallout could have lasting consequences.
Speaking to The Mirror US, Dooley said, “Nicki Minaj has been known to have had die-hard fans – ‘The Barbz’ – established over decades of being named the best female rapper,” before noting that repeated controversies have strained public trust.
Dooley continued, “Nicki Minaj has been close to being ‘cancelled’ even before AmericaFest, facing backlash on multiple occasions for various controversies like supporting her brother’s bail, and feuds with Jay-Z and Cardi B that left many of us wondering, ‘Where is her PR team?!'”
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The hip-hop star previously criticized Trump’s administration over its immigration policies, writing on Instagram in 2018, “I came to this country as an illegal immigrant. I can’t imagine the horror of being in a strange place & having my parents stripped away from me at the age of 5,” in reference to the separation of children from their families at the border.
“Nicki Minaj’s opinions on Trump appeared to do a 360, and this inconsistency in public beliefs alone erodes trust for your audience from a PR perspective,” Dooley said. She pointed to Minaj’s Instagram deactivation late last year as a sign the backlash had escalated, estimating a loss of 3–4 million followers and warning it “could be the end of her career.”
Despite that assessment, Minaj’s commercial performance tells a contrasting story. In 2025, she surpassed 40 billion total streams on Spotify, becoming the first female rapper to reach the milestone, according to InMusic. Data from Kworb shows her catalog continues to generate millions of daily streams, with several songs still exceeding one billion streams each.
Industry watchers also note that Minaj currently pulls more weekly streams than Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion combined. Fans have reportedly organized streaming pushes for “Pink Friday 2” and tracks like “Last Time I Saw You,” fueling renewed momentum across platforms.
Minaj was also the most-viewed female rapper on YouTube in 2025, despite not releasing a new music video since 2023. With a new album scheduled for March 2026, insiders suggest the controversy may be expanding her audience rather than shrinking it.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Nicki Minaj Praises Trump and Vance at AmericaFest, Calls VP an ‘Assassin’ | Video
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