President Donald Trump praised rapper Nicki Minaj’s figure during a campaign rally in Michigan on Sunday, calling her backside “hard to miss” as she joined him onstage to support Republican candidates ahead of the midterms.
Minaj, 43, traveled with Trump on Air Force One to Port Huron, where she spoke for about two minutes in support of former Rep. Mike Rogers, who is running for Senate, and Rep. John James, who is running for governor. During his nearly two-hour speech, Trump brought up Minaj’s appearance.
“By the way, I looked at one hell of a beautiful a– before: Nicki Minaj,” Trump said, according to the BBC . “That’s hard to miss. Stand up! That’s hard to miss.”
After Minaj rose and waved to the crowd, Trump added, “I hope Nicki wasn’t insulted, but we love Nicki. She’s been with us for a long time”.
The Context
The remark came after Trump defended earlier comments he had made about the backside of Republican Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio, saying they were made “in fun” and that reports left out Husted’s football background. “I’ve never done that with a man before,” Trump said. “Off the record, women? Yes. Men? No”.
Later in the evening, after Minaj’s speech, Trump praised her again: “She never looked more beautiful. She gets it. She’s smart”.
Minaj’s Speech
Minaj, wearing a gold Gucci-branded suit, opened her remarks by leading the crowd in a chant of “We love Trump.” She told the crowd in Michigan to “be a leader in this movement” and called the moment a “major turning point for our country”.
She also spoke against gender-affirming care for transgender children. “We want people to leave the children alone, leave them out of it,” she said. She ended by addressing Trump directly: “President Trump, it is an honor to stand with you every single time, and I will continue to support you forever and ever. If you run again, I will support you again”
The Bottom Line
President Trump praised Nicki Minaj’s backside at a Michigan rally, calling it “hard to miss” as the rapper joined him on the campaign trail to support Republican candidates. Minaj, who has called herself Trump’s “number one fan,” flew with him on Air Force One and urged voters to support the GOP. The moment drew cheers from the crowd and is the latest example of Trump’s unconventional campaigning style as the midterms approach.
My Opinion
This is not the first time Trump has done something like this. He has spent his entire political career saying things that would have ended any other politician’s career. His supporters love it. They see it as authenticity, as a man who says what he thinks and does not care about the rules. But the rules exist for a reason. The presidency is not a reality show nor a place where you get to comment on women’s bodies in front of a crowd and expect to be treated as a statesman.
Nicki Minaj is not the victim here. She chose to stand with Trump. She called him a leader. She said she would support him forever. But the moment was still beneath the office. And the fact that it happened at a campaign rally, with Senate and gubernatorial candidates standing nearby, makes it worse. This is what the Republican Party has become. A party that stands by while its leader turns a political rally into a frat house.
