Nicki Minaj is explaining why she became a public supporter of Donald Trump, and she is tying part of that shift back to Jay-Z.
In a new interview with TIME, the rapper said her move toward MAGA did not happen suddenly. Minaj said she had privately identified with Trump for some time, but avoided saying so publicly because Democratic politics are so deeply rooted in the music industry.
During the interview, Minaj claimed Jay-Z’s close relationship with Barack Obama played a role in how some people in hip-hop viewed the former president. She suggested that Obama’s connection to Jay-Z “ended up costing” him support, claiming that many rappers do not like Jay-Z but are afraid to say it openly.
Minaj also repeated her long-running criticism of Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company, which she has accused of holding too much power in the industry. She claimed that Roc Nation’s influence has created resentment among artists who feel the company has too much control over music, media, and opportunity.
Her comments about Jay-Z came as part of a wider explanation of why she has moved away from the Democratic Party. Minaj said one of the biggest turning points involved multiple swatting calls made to her Los Angeles home between 2022 and 2023. After those incidents, she said she tried to get a meeting with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, but claimed he never responded.
Minaj told TIME that Newsom “completely ignored” her, despite what she described as the amount of money she pays in taxes in California.
She said the contrast became clear after another swatting incident in April 2025. This time, Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna reportedly reached out and helped connect her with law enforcement and private security. Minaj said that gesture made her feel supported by someone in politics in a way she had not experienced before.
Minaj also pointed to Barack Obama’s 2024 campaign remarks while supporting Kamala Harris. In that speech, Obama suggested that some Black men were hesitant to vote for a woman. Minaj said she found the comments condescending, adding to her frustration with Democratic figures.
Her public support for Trump became more visible in late 2025 after she thanked him on X for speaking about violence against Christians in Nigeria. Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz later helped connect her with members of the administration, and Minaj eventually appeared at a United Nations-related event on the issue.
The appearance drew backlash online, but Minaj said the criticism only made her more willing to speak out. She told TIME that if critics had left her alone, she may not have become as vocal.
Minaj also revisited the controversy around her 2021 COVID-19 vaccine comments. At the time, she claimed her cousin in Trinidad knew someone who experienced swollen testicles after vaccination. The claim was publicly rejected by Trinidad’s health minister, but Minaj said in the interview that she felt unfairly attacked for raising the concern.
Looking ahead, Nicki Minaj said she would help Trump campaign for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections if asked. She also suggested that more celebrities may eventually come forward as Trump supporters, saying many people in entertainment feel the same way she does but are afraid to say it publicl