December 22, 2025 • 25 mins
12 time Grammy nominee, rapper Nicki Minaj sent jaws dropping after making a surprise appearance at the Turning Point USA conference over the weekend. Amy and T.J. discuss her relatively new and effusive support of the Trump administration along with her comments about white women owing their beauty, her beef with Gavin Newsom and that awkward moment she referred to the Vice President as an assassin.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey, folks, it is Monday, December twenty second. Gavin Newsom
is scum. Jd Vance is an assassin. Donald Trump is
dashing and handsome, and white women, go ahead, be proud
of your white skin, your blonde hair, and your blue eyes.
(00:23):
All of that said at the Turning Point USA conference
in Phoenix. Maybe no surprise those words were uttered on stage.
A surprise and even shocked to sum Is who said
all that, and with that, welcome to this episode of
Amy and TJ. I guess some people be surprised ropes
that those words came from a very prominent African American
(00:45):
artist at this conference.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yes, we're talking about rapper Nicki Minaj, who has never
been shy about her words and her thoughts and what
she thinks about things and people, and she certainly let
it all out on stage at Turning Point USA.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I have to say.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
I was surprised that might be an understatement and immediately
wanted to do a deep dive on Wait, at what
point did Nicki Minaj become a huge Trump supporter?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
It was fifteen minutes ago. It hasn't been long. She's
been a long time critic of this administration of President
Trump and this has just happened in recent days. I
don't want to and we should start with this, she had.
Everybody has their own opinions. Knock yourself out, you love
President Trump, knock yourself out if you do think he's
dashing in handsome, we'll share that quote here in just
(01:34):
a second. Knock yourself out, you like his policies, knock
yourself out. There is no criticism here necessarily. The surprise
is who is uttering these words and where she is
uttering him because ropes. We are not used to seeing
a very diverse crowd in a maga crowd, that's just true.
But to have this prominent of a black voice speaking
(01:59):
like this there, Yeah, of course it got attention, Yes.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Very much so, and it was interesting hearing her. It
seemed to me.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
We both listened to her entire time on stage, and
it's very much faith based.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
She is proud to be a Christian woman.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
She felt compelled, she says, to speak up and to
speak out when she has been watching the Christians being
persecuted in Nigeria. She saw the Trump administration was taking
a stance against that. And I think that's what she claims, well,
at least what she said pushed her over the edge
to become more public about how she feels about this
administration and being able to speak her truth and celebrate
(02:35):
her faith and talk about where she is politically.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
And when you hear her explain and explain her life
and her being a kid and going to church every
week and how that kind of shaped her, you listened
to her, and all those things can be very legitimate arguments. Again, no,
nobody's taking her on for having her views. It still
came to a lot of people a little stunning to
hear some of the things, in particular having to do
with white women. The thing she has, obviously she has
(03:02):
a beef with Gavin Newsome. A lot of people are
familiar with that, but she did have And the thing
that got a lot of headlines is there was a
pretty It was just a mistake she made, but it
was a very uncomfortable mistake she made. And we'll give
you the full details here in a second, but she
did in speaking, she's called JD. Vance an assassin. We'll
give you the context in a second, but it was
(03:22):
just a really awkward moment.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Look, a lot of people referred to vice presidents as bulldogs.
We've definitely heard that's the role of the vice president.
The president gets to be the statesman gets to be
the president. The vice president is the one who's out
there fighting the fights, and so I know that's where
her head was. But of all words to use assassin
sitting across from Erica Kirk in a crowd of folks
(03:46):
who were there and huge obviously ardent supporters of Charlie Kirk,
who was we don't even need to remind you assassinated
just a few months ago.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
It was awkward, tough. We'll give you all the details there.
That was. So that was it was tough. As I
was looking, because I'd read it several times and several
places I fast forwarded through it. It was so uncomfortable.
I did not even listen to her get those words out.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
So I was actually running and was listening to it.
So I wasn't watching it, but I was listening to it,
and she you could tell she was mortified. I mean,
there was just this silence, and I do have to
give Erica Kirk credit. She she filled the space with
kindness and grace and just said, I know you, I know.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Your heart, don't worry.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
People have said the craziest things around me. You know,
I know you're a child of God and God is good,
and so she just she filled it up, got the
crowd going supporting her, clapping, but you could tell Nicki
Minaj was mortified.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
So, yeah, you were listening to it there, it will
get into it. But she reacted in such a way
like you felt they actually feel bad for her. Head
went down. She realized she had made that mistake. But
what were if You'll probably seen a lot of coverage
over the weekend. Turning Point USA does his annual conference.
Of course, Charlie clirk kirk first time he's not has
main of course because of his death, but his wife,
(05:02):
of course, Erica Kirk is widow, has been taking the
lead now. She mentioned that in years past, Charlie Kirk
was known to always bringing in a surprise guest, and
she was the surprise this year. Nicki Minaj, twelve time
Grammy nominee hit maker who's been doing this for fifteen
plus years now, really one of the most prominent, certainly
(05:22):
female rappers, and one of the most successful that we
have seen in this particular era. She is a staple
in music. She is a she's huge in the black community.
She's huge in the mainstream. I think crossover a lot
of ways with the lot of young women with a
lot of her theme songs, right star shims. She's a
(05:45):
big She's a big damg oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Still, over the past recent months at least, she has
been getting into it a public one side. It's spat
with Governor Newsom. She has decided to take him on
for whatever reason. He's not necessarily take making the bait fully,
but she has got a lot to say about him.
And that's how the events started when she got on
stage of there Kirk.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Yeah, you know, and look, it's it's tough because this
is a conversation about a lot of it was about faith,
and a lot of it was about lifting people up.
And yet to then hear her and certainly we've heard
Trump do the same, tear down his political rival, and
not just say I don't like his policies.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
I don't like it.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
It gets mean spirited, and she was towing the Trump
line on Gavin Newsom, name calling, making fun of.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Which I'm okay with as an entertainer. Knock yourself out.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't like it.
But it's certainly if it's coming out of her mouth.
I'm not as upset if it's coming out of my
president's mouth. Name calling. But yes, this was in line,
but it felt like Kerrik Kirk knew what she was
doing and was trying to get a particular something out
of it. But the first thing she had to ask
her about was Governor Newsom. I guess Robes would say
(06:59):
what set her off. It was the issue of trans Yes, yes,
that Governor Newsom's his stand. She took issue with that
in recent months and has been going after him pretty
hard on Twitter. And Erica Kirk started out at the
beginning asking her about Governor Newsom. She immediately called him
new scum, but asked her to read her tweets, which
(07:20):
she did in a very classic Nicki minaj way.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Yes, should we read them? Tweet number one from Nicki Minaje.
Imagine being the guy running on wanting to see trans kids. Haha,
Not even a trans adult would run on that. Normal
adults wake up and think they want to see healthy, safe,
happy kids.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Send in the next guy. I'm bored again.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
She has her doing a dramatic reading of her own
tweets is what at the top, and then she had
to read another one in which she said, oh, Gabby Pooh,
it only gets worse from here for you, buddy. It's
the end of the road for you, my love. Get
on the nearest jet ski and let that beautiful hair
blow in the wind. It will make you happier than
this race that you will not win. Enjoy live peace.
(08:05):
Piece on that one. This is a second one here,
next one. But she was almost this is how Nicki
Minaj talks, and she gets it to a lot of
beefs online with a lot of people, it feels. But
she's a rapper, it's what she does, and a good
writer and a pretty good poet. But her tone and
that she's insulting you but giving you a cold Gabby
pooh kind of a thing. But she read though. That's
how they started, now or robes. They continued along. How
(08:28):
long did they take? She was only up there thirty
minutes and they spent the first what on Gavin Newsom?
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Gavin Newsom, I feel like dominated at least the first third,
maybe even half of the conversation that she had. And look,
they know what they're doing, they know that they already
have they're already setting setting the path forward for the Republicans.
We've already heard Erica Kirk say that she is supporting
jd Vance to be the twenty twenty eight Republican I
(08:55):
guess the candidate, and so, yes, we all know Gavin
Newsom right now is a front runner on the Democratic side,
So yeah, why not go ahead and take aim at
your biggest political rival on that stage.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
That's exactly what they were doing with.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
A name that many people didn't expect necessarily be up
there doing.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
So what has there been reaction in the black community
about what Nicki Minaj had to say or about her
support for President Trump.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
There's reaction, There's sometimes the rolling of the eyes, but
sometimes people can be Look, Nicki Minaj has had a foothole.
She has been very much successful because of a lot
of black support she has gotten. Maybe a lot of
people don't understand know her views, but to some black
folks this will feel like there's this idea in the
(09:38):
black community that you can't be a couple of things.
You can't be a Republican and when I was growing up,
you can't be gay. Those are two things you're always told.
So to hear someone still those old ideas of you
just automatically see a black person and you can't be
a Republican or a conservative. That's silly. Obviously that's silly.
But still she came out and was so effusive in
her praise of this president in a way that has
(10:00):
people scratching their heads and wondering if she up to
something else, because there's no way she can believe the
shit's coming out of our mouth.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Really yeah, wow.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
She's got Is this a play for trying to get
that support, trying to stay relevant, trying to do so.
That are the accusations that will remain out there, but
I mean, I want to leave open the possibility that
she is sincere in what she's doing. But when she
was asked about the president and vice president, what are
the things you have learned about these two? This is
where it gets into when you hear the answer like wait.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
What Yes, this was probably the most shocking to your
point what you just said. This is the perfect setup
for her answer. Nicki Minasch said, I have the utmost
respect and administration, sorry, admiration for our president.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Boom, huge applause.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
He's given so many people hope that there is a
chance to beat the bad guys and to win, and
to do it with your head held high and your
integrity intact.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
That's what she believes, is what she believes. Did you
look at that? And for a lot of people, I
don't know, just folks will have a difficult time understanding
how she gets there, and I guess you have to.
She has every right to her opinion, of course, but
we're just not used to this type of strong, full
throated support coming from such a prominent member of the
(11:21):
black community.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Yes, and also it should be of note that Nicki Minaj,
I mean we've talked, we brushed on a little bit,
used to be very critical of the Trump administration, and
namely one of her big beefs was she came to
this country as an illegal.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Immigrant Trinidad at Tobago.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
So she understands, in a way a lot of us
cannot what it's like to be in this country illegally,
and so that was part of you. So it's it's
interesting to see this massive transformation this one eighty. She
had lyrics about Trump and some of her earlier music
so anti Trump. So it's interesting to see her come
(11:59):
around and not just say you know what, I get
what he's doing.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
I appreciate what he's doing.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
His policies might not be for everybody, but I understand
she is being effusive to the point where it's head scratching.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Again, she said. She mentioned at some point here she
said people can change their minds, and that's true. That
is absolutely truth. This is a this is a hell
of a one eighty in a very short period of time.
She went on, The administration is full of people with
heart and soul, and they make me proud of them. Again,
I don't think she has a relationship with the White House.
I don't think she knows them personally. But that is
(12:32):
a strong statement. The next one there, that's that's one
that's hard for some people to get their head around,
especially coming out of the mouth of a black woman.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
She says, they have an uncanny ability to be someone
that you relate to. I can relate to them when
I hear them speak, I know that they're one of us.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Okay, she's speaking through her experience, sure, I suppose, and
based on what her life has been she might look
at them and say, I can relate. I can tell
they're one of us, like me. Nicki Minaj. We didn't
know as a community that Nicki Minaje regarded herself like that.
I didn't know she would ever look, and I didn't
(13:15):
know that. I'm learning a lot about her in this
and again I am fully taking her at her word
and being sincere at everything she said.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Yep, and talking about the administration, she went on to say,
they have the ability to still connect and be real
and make us feel proud to be an American. And look,
Erica kirk asked her directly about backlash from her industry.
She didn't say community, but she's at industry and certainly
that's the music industry, which tends to largely be perhaps
(13:45):
more on the side of liberal politics versus conservative. So
she actually I actually liked her answer, and it set
Erica Kirk off too, and they had a very fun
connective moment when she asked, you're getting backlash from your
own industry.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
What's your reaction to that?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Nicki minaj very quickly and confidently said, I didn't notice.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
It was my favorite moment. First, I liked it all
typical Nikki right there. That was good stuff. That was
good stuff.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Look, she seemed incredibly authentic. You know, I don't know
her that, well, I haven't. I haven't watched her that.
I mean, obviously I love her music and I know
of her, but listening to her it all, it didn't
seem performative. It seemed as if she was speaking to
the heart. That's just that was my initial impression.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
I didn't find much of it. I didn't find her
necessarily putting on a different tone to her, given I'm
used to her in different circles hip hop circles. Yes,
different language, it's totally different. But she was I to
your I would absolutely suggest the same. Now, the thing,
there were a couple of things that really really got
a lot of people's attention. We mentioned at the top.
(14:52):
There were two in particular rope. She was asked about
motherhood and young boys and young girls, and she gave
an answer having to do with one white women and
white girls shouldn't be shy and should speak up and
be proud of their beauty. That was one. But the
other big issue I got a lot of headlines is
because it was a sincere gaff in which she called J.
(15:15):
D Vance an assassin, and she said it sitting only
feet away from Erica Kirk. Stay here, we'll explain both
of those moments.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Welcome back everyone.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
We are talking about Nicki Minaj making a big old
splash at Turning Point USA. She was a surprise guest
of Erica Kirk's and she surprised a lot of us,
in fact, well at large, a large percentage of the population.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
The headlines you can see them this morning.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
People are not only surprised that Nicki Minaj was so
support of President Trump and his administration and very just
the effusive actually in her descriptions of them, but also
what she had to say about Jade Vance and also
about what she had to say about white women.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
I have to say my ears perked up.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
I mentioned I was running and I was listening to
this while and that part obviously really got my attention.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
It is not something that I was expecting to hear.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
And this is what she said. She was asked, particularly,
asked about motherhood, asked about a message she maybe had
to young girls and young boys, and she started by
talking about young girls, saying, quote, if as if as
black women, we felt as if we were not being
represented and not being admired for our beauty. If we
felt like that as black women, why would we want
to do that to other women. Why would we now
(16:45):
need to make other people downplay their beauty. That's not
how it works. I don't need someone with blonde hair
and blue eyes to downplay their beauty because I know
my beauty. It doesn't bother me that a woman feels
and says that she is beautiful. Why wouldn't she feel that?
Why have we gotten to the point where certain colors
or certain kinds of people have to be afraid of
(17:06):
loving themselves and the way they look. I'm gonna stop
right there for a second. Es I mean, she's yes,
I agree with just about all that.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
I agree with everything she said. I appreciated that she
said it, and all my mind went straight to with
Sidney Sweeney. I was thinking, and maybe I'm wrong, but
I was thinking that she might be loosely referencing that
or using what happened to Sidney Sweeney as the taking
off point to talk about let's let people be able
to celebrate who they are and what they look like,
(17:38):
no matter what race they are.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Here's the thing I agree with all of that. It
lacked context, and it lacked context that most black women
immediately and hearing that were probably shouting at the TV
when they heard it because there is context to what
we are saying. Yes, every woman should embrace their beauty,
their unique whatever it may be, the hair color, that color,
(18:01):
the hip side, whatever it may be. The problem is
that too many other folks that are in control of advertising,
how we see ourselves, think about ourselves, the money we spend,
the money we make, who gets hired and fired is
based on a standard of beauty that belongs exclusively to
white women. That is the context that was missing in there.
(18:23):
But I can't we should all agree with that sentiment. Yes,
one hundred percent, I agree.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
She went on to say, I don't want what was
done to little black girls done to little white girls.
I want all little girls in the world to know
that you are unique, you are beautiful. You can compliment
another girl, another woman, and still know you are epic
and amazing. And I appreciate your point what you just said,
the context that was missing, but I also appreciate the
(18:50):
fact that she said that.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
I do think that it does create.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
An opportunity for a conversation to be had that when
you start with that premise, then you can get into
those other details where I think people might be more
willing to go I see what you mean.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
I see what you mean.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Because they feel heard, or they feel seen, or they
at least feel recognized that there is this idea that
everybody should be treated and that's this perfect world with
a certain level of respect. But yes, that context is necessary,
that there is a reason why some voices need to
be heard more than others, at least given the history
(19:29):
and the current situation.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
I mean, this is like red meat to a particular crowd.
But it would have been really easy if President Trump
was delivering the same he would have said it in
a different way. And some conservatives say it differently. But
you're just saying none wrong with being white. Yeah, white
is awesome. She's not saying it that way. But she's saying, yes,
who Sidney, you white girl, you, Hispanic girl, you Asian girl, everybody.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Yeah, she actually called out all She actually said all
of those.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
And here is the this take us now to what
was the awkward, most uncomfortable and unfortunate moment. Really, she's
trying to make a statement there and trying to be
complimentary to the White House and to the administration into
some officials, and she just misspoke. I was wondering if
she misspoke. On the first part of this, in which
she was complimenting President Trump, she made a little face.
(20:21):
She was being cute. But you read that and you're like,
come on, Nikki, really not to say he's not a
dashing and handsome man.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, it's weird because she was making fun of Gavin
Newsom for his you know, his hair and his dashing
good looks. I think she even said, you think your
tom cruise except your next mission is impossible.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
You know, she was saying all of that.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
So, yes, this was interesting because Erica Kirk said, look,
I'm the mother of boys. You have boys, please speak
to young men as well, And so Nicki Minaj said,
as for young men, don't be new scum young men.
You have amazing role models like our handsome, dashing president,
(21:03):
and you have amazing role models like the assassin jd Vance.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
It's tough. And she almost immediately she stopped. She stopped,
and you were listening. I was looking at her. She
stopped and just looked mortified. I mean, she didn't completely
emote with her face. It just went I mean, if
she wasn't black, it might have gone white, like just
pale in that moment. And she put her hand up
(21:32):
and put it over her mouth, and she was so
I think she was so embarrassed because she know who
she's sitting in front of, right, and she knew that
moment and Erica, this is one you said it Robes.
Give Erica Kirk credit for just trying to help her
out of really an impossible situation. She just used the
word assassin in front of Erica Kirk.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
And unfortunately, for at least Nicki Minaj, anything that she
was trying to say or do or be come a
part of, or change the narrative up, it didn't matter
because every single headline today was about that. And you
know what, Look, anyone who has been in the public,
anyone who has spoken publicly or even repeatedly, has had
to you are going to make a mistake.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
You are going to say something you didn't mean to say.
A word could slip out that you didn't mean. All
of that can happen.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
So my heart went out to her in that moment
because it was an honest, genuine mistake.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
She did not mean to use that one.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
It was just an unfortunate one. And look, it's looks
she's a rapper in hip hop. The slang is thrown
around plenty, calling somebody ass it's a compliment. He's a
at a term, he's a killer. Yeah, you can go
after and eliminate targets. He's an assassin, right, That language
is thrown around. She was using. Possibly that's where her
head was. Who knows what was going on up there,
(22:49):
but she knows it was the wrong word. Look, I
appreciate I will say this about black folk. I do
not like, and we don't like when other folks outside
of our community try to box us in and say
we're all this or we're all that, and we all
like this music, I like this politics, I like this church,
or like whatever. Maybe we hate that. So I also
(23:12):
equally hate when black folks put each other into a
box to where we can't have a diversity of ideas,
like how dare you support that president? How dare you
have that view on that issue? So I look, you
can think what you want about Nicki Minaj, but I
just I don't like dismissing people just because their views
aren't necessarily exactly what somebody thinks should be in line
with the African American community. And how can you support
(23:35):
this guy giving what he's done to the minority communities,
all those things. We can have that debate. I just
don't think folks should be dismissed immediately just because you
might have a view that's not like the rest. So
for that, I will at least give Nicki Minage credit
for having us have this conversation. Other people say, y'all
are nuts. She's just doing this trying to remain relevant,
(23:57):
or she wants something, or she's trying something their sinx.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Well, I appreciate what you just said, because I think
if more people can have that attitude about all the
different opinions they have and just because someone may look
a certain way, it doesn't mean we can assume they
think a certain way. And I think that's a really
good way to go about life, actually, and to give
people that credit and give them that right to have
their own, unique formed opinions that don't have to fall
(24:22):
in line with where they were born, where they were from,
with the color of their skin, is what part of
the country they live in. We can all we all
have the right to think and believe what we think
is best for ourselves and our families. And so for that, yes,
Nicki Minaj stood up and she owned it.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
We shall see. I'm very curious to see what happens
with her moving forward. This is in her heart, but yeah,
it is just because of who it is and what
she looks like and is not the norm when it
comes to supporting this president.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
It got too much, all right, And with that everyone,
thank you for listening to us. I'm maybe Roebuck alongside TJ.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Holmes. We'll talk to you soon.
Hey, folks, it is Monday, December twenty second. Gavin Newsom
is scum. Jd Vance is an assassin. Donald Trump is
dashing and handsome, and white women, go ahead, be proud
of your white skin, your blonde hair, and your blue eyes.
(00:23):
All of that said at the Turning Point USA conference
in Phoenix. Maybe no surprise those words were uttered on stage.
A surprise and even shocked to sum Is who said
all that, and with that, welcome to this episode of
Amy and TJ. I guess some people be surprised ropes
that those words came from a very prominent African American
(00:45):
artist at this conference.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yes, we're talking about rapper Nicki Minaj, who has never
been shy about her words and her thoughts and what
she thinks about things and people, and she certainly let
it all out on stage at Turning Point USA.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I have to say.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
I was surprised that might be an understatement and immediately
wanted to do a deep dive on Wait, at what
point did Nicki Minaj become a huge Trump supporter?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
It was fifteen minutes ago. It hasn't been long. She's
been a long time critic of this administration of President
Trump and this has just happened in recent days. I
don't want to and we should start with this, she had.
Everybody has their own opinions. Knock yourself out, you love
President Trump, knock yourself out if you do think he's
dashing in handsome, we'll share that quote here in just
(01:34):
a second. Knock yourself out, you like his policies, knock
yourself out. There is no criticism here necessarily. The surprise
is who is uttering these words and where she is
uttering him because ropes. We are not used to seeing
a very diverse crowd in a maga crowd, that's just true.
But to have this prominent of a black voice speaking
(01:59):
like this there, Yeah, of course it got attention, Yes.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Very much so, and it was interesting hearing her. It
seemed to me.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
We both listened to her entire time on stage, and
it's very much faith based.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
She is proud to be a Christian woman.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
She felt compelled, she says, to speak up and to
speak out when she has been watching the Christians being
persecuted in Nigeria. She saw the Trump administration was taking
a stance against that. And I think that's what she claims, well,
at least what she said pushed her over the edge
to become more public about how she feels about this
administration and being able to speak her truth and celebrate
(02:35):
her faith and talk about where she is politically.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
And when you hear her explain and explain her life
and her being a kid and going to church every
week and how that kind of shaped her, you listened
to her, and all those things can be very legitimate arguments. Again, no,
nobody's taking her on for having her views. It still
came to a lot of people a little stunning to
hear some of the things, in particular having to do
with white women. The thing she has, obviously she has
(03:02):
a beef with Gavin Newsome. A lot of people are
familiar with that, but she did have And the thing
that got a lot of headlines is there was a
pretty It was just a mistake she made, but it
was a very uncomfortable mistake she made. And we'll give
you the full details here in a second, but she
did in speaking, she's called JD. Vance an assassin. We'll
give you the context in a second, but it was
(03:22):
just a really awkward moment.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Look, a lot of people referred to vice presidents as bulldogs.
We've definitely heard that's the role of the vice president.
The president gets to be the statesman gets to be
the president. The vice president is the one who's out
there fighting the fights, and so I know that's where
her head was. But of all words to use assassin
sitting across from Erica Kirk in a crowd of folks
(03:46):
who were there and huge obviously ardent supporters of Charlie Kirk,
who was we don't even need to remind you assassinated
just a few months ago.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
It was awkward, tough. We'll give you all the details there.
That was. So that was it was tough. As I
was looking, because I'd read it several times and several
places I fast forwarded through it. It was so uncomfortable.
I did not even listen to her get those words out.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
So I was actually running and was listening to it.
So I wasn't watching it, but I was listening to it,
and she you could tell she was mortified. I mean,
there was just this silence, and I do have to
give Erica Kirk credit. She she filled the space with
kindness and grace and just said, I know you, I know.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Your heart, don't worry.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
People have said the craziest things around me. You know,
I know you're a child of God and God is good,
and so she just she filled it up, got the
crowd going supporting her, clapping, but you could tell Nicki
Minaj was mortified.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
So, yeah, you were listening to it there, it will
get into it. But she reacted in such a way
like you felt they actually feel bad for her. Head
went down. She realized she had made that mistake. But
what were if You'll probably seen a lot of coverage
over the weekend. Turning Point USA does his annual conference.
Of course, Charlie clirk kirk first time he's not has
main of course because of his death, but his wife,
(05:02):
of course, Erica Kirk is widow, has been taking the
lead now. She mentioned that in years past, Charlie Kirk
was known to always bringing in a surprise guest, and
she was the surprise this year. Nicki Minaj, twelve time
Grammy nominee hit maker who's been doing this for fifteen
plus years now, really one of the most prominent, certainly
(05:22):
female rappers, and one of the most successful that we
have seen in this particular era. She is a staple
in music. She is a she's huge in the black community.
She's huge in the mainstream. I think crossover a lot
of ways with the lot of young women with a
lot of her theme songs, right star shims. She's a
(05:45):
big She's a big damg oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Still, over the past recent months at least, she has
been getting into it a public one side. It's spat
with Governor Newsom. She has decided to take him on
for whatever reason. He's not necessarily take making the bait fully,
but she has got a lot to say about him.
And that's how the events started when she got on
stage of there Kirk.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Yeah, you know, and look, it's it's tough because this
is a conversation about a lot of it was about faith,
and a lot of it was about lifting people up.
And yet to then hear her and certainly we've heard
Trump do the same, tear down his political rival, and
not just say I don't like his policies.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
I don't like it.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
It gets mean spirited, and she was towing the Trump
line on Gavin Newsom, name calling, making fun of.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Which I'm okay with as an entertainer. Knock yourself out.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't like it.
But it's certainly if it's coming out of her mouth.
I'm not as upset if it's coming out of my
president's mouth. Name calling. But yes, this was in line,
but it felt like Kerrik Kirk knew what she was
doing and was trying to get a particular something out
of it. But the first thing she had to ask
her about was Governor Newsom. I guess Robes would say
(06:59):
what set her off. It was the issue of trans Yes, yes,
that Governor Newsom's his stand. She took issue with that
in recent months and has been going after him pretty
hard on Twitter. And Erica Kirk started out at the
beginning asking her about Governor Newsom. She immediately called him
new scum, but asked her to read her tweets, which
(07:20):
she did in a very classic Nicki minaj way.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Yes, should we read them? Tweet number one from Nicki Minaje.
Imagine being the guy running on wanting to see trans kids. Haha,
Not even a trans adult would run on that. Normal
adults wake up and think they want to see healthy, safe,
happy kids.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Send in the next guy. I'm bored again.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
She has her doing a dramatic reading of her own
tweets is what at the top, and then she had
to read another one in which she said, oh, Gabby Pooh,
it only gets worse from here for you, buddy. It's
the end of the road for you, my love. Get
on the nearest jet ski and let that beautiful hair
blow in the wind. It will make you happier than
this race that you will not win. Enjoy live peace.
(08:05):
Piece on that one. This is a second one here,
next one. But she was almost this is how Nicki
Minaj talks, and she gets it to a lot of
beefs online with a lot of people, it feels. But
she's a rapper, it's what she does, and a good
writer and a pretty good poet. But her tone and
that she's insulting you but giving you a cold Gabby
pooh kind of a thing. But she read though. That's
how they started, now or robes. They continued along. How
(08:28):
long did they take? She was only up there thirty
minutes and they spent the first what on Gavin Newsom?
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Gavin Newsom, I feel like dominated at least the first third,
maybe even half of the conversation that she had. And look,
they know what they're doing, they know that they already
have they're already setting setting the path forward for the Republicans.
We've already heard Erica Kirk say that she is supporting
jd Vance to be the twenty twenty eight Republican I
(08:55):
guess the candidate, and so, yes, we all know Gavin
Newsom right now is a front runner on the Democratic side,
So yeah, why not go ahead and take aim at
your biggest political rival on that stage.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
That's exactly what they were doing with.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
A name that many people didn't expect necessarily be up
there doing.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
So what has there been reaction in the black community
about what Nicki Minaj had to say or about her
support for President Trump.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
There's reaction, There's sometimes the rolling of the eyes, but
sometimes people can be Look, Nicki Minaj has had a foothole.
She has been very much successful because of a lot
of black support she has gotten. Maybe a lot of
people don't understand know her views, but to some black
folks this will feel like there's this idea in the
(09:38):
black community that you can't be a couple of things.
You can't be a Republican and when I was growing up,
you can't be gay. Those are two things you're always told.
So to hear someone still those old ideas of you
just automatically see a black person and you can't be
a Republican or a conservative. That's silly. Obviously that's silly.
But still she came out and was so effusive in
her praise of this president in a way that has
(10:00):
people scratching their heads and wondering if she up to
something else, because there's no way she can believe the
shit's coming out of our mouth.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Really yeah, wow.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
She's got Is this a play for trying to get
that support, trying to stay relevant, trying to do so.
That are the accusations that will remain out there, but
I mean, I want to leave open the possibility that
she is sincere in what she's doing. But when she
was asked about the president and vice president, what are
the things you have learned about these two? This is
where it gets into when you hear the answer like wait.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
What Yes, this was probably the most shocking to your
point what you just said. This is the perfect setup
for her answer. Nicki Minasch said, I have the utmost
respect and administration, sorry, admiration for our president.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Boom, huge applause.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
He's given so many people hope that there is a
chance to beat the bad guys and to win, and
to do it with your head held high and your
integrity intact.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
That's what she believes, is what she believes. Did you
look at that? And for a lot of people, I
don't know, just folks will have a difficult time understanding
how she gets there, and I guess you have to.
She has every right to her opinion, of course, but
we're just not used to this type of strong, full
throated support coming from such a prominent member of the
(11:21):
black community.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Yes, and also it should be of note that Nicki Minaj,
I mean we've talked, we brushed on a little bit,
used to be very critical of the Trump administration, and
namely one of her big beefs was she came to
this country as an illegal.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Immigrant Trinidad at Tobago.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
So she understands, in a way a lot of us
cannot what it's like to be in this country illegally,
and so that was part of you. So it's it's
interesting to see this massive transformation this one eighty. She
had lyrics about Trump and some of her earlier music
so anti Trump. So it's interesting to see her come
(11:59):
around and not just say you know what, I get
what he's doing.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
I appreciate what he's doing.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
His policies might not be for everybody, but I understand
she is being effusive to the point where it's head scratching.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Again, she said. She mentioned at some point here she
said people can change their minds, and that's true. That
is absolutely truth. This is a this is a hell
of a one eighty in a very short period of time.
She went on, The administration is full of people with
heart and soul, and they make me proud of them. Again,
I don't think she has a relationship with the White House.
I don't think she knows them personally. But that is
(12:32):
a strong statement. The next one there, that's that's one
that's hard for some people to get their head around,
especially coming out of the mouth of a black woman.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
She says, they have an uncanny ability to be someone
that you relate to. I can relate to them when
I hear them speak, I know that they're one of us.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Okay, she's speaking through her experience, sure, I suppose, and
based on what her life has been she might look
at them and say, I can relate. I can tell
they're one of us, like me. Nicki Minaj. We didn't
know as a community that Nicki Minaje regarded herself like that.
I didn't know she would ever look, and I didn't
(13:15):
know that. I'm learning a lot about her in this
and again I am fully taking her at her word
and being sincere at everything she said.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Yep, and talking about the administration, she went on to say,
they have the ability to still connect and be real
and make us feel proud to be an American. And look,
Erica kirk asked her directly about backlash from her industry.
She didn't say community, but she's at industry and certainly
that's the music industry, which tends to largely be perhaps
(13:45):
more on the side of liberal politics versus conservative. So
she actually I actually liked her answer, and it set
Erica Kirk off too, and they had a very fun
connective moment when she asked, you're getting backlash from your
own industry.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
What's your reaction to that?
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Nicki minaj very quickly and confidently said, I didn't notice.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
It was my favorite moment. First, I liked it all
typical Nikki right there. That was good stuff. That was
good stuff.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Look, she seemed incredibly authentic. You know, I don't know
her that, well, I haven't. I haven't watched her that.
I mean, obviously I love her music and I know
of her, but listening to her it all, it didn't
seem performative. It seemed as if she was speaking to
the heart. That's just that was my initial impression.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
I didn't find much of it. I didn't find her
necessarily putting on a different tone to her, given I'm
used to her in different circles hip hop circles. Yes,
different language, it's totally different. But she was I to
your I would absolutely suggest the same. Now, the thing,
there were a couple of things that really really got
a lot of people's attention. We mentioned at the top.
(14:52):
There were two in particular rope. She was asked about
motherhood and young boys and young girls, and she gave
an answer having to do with one white women and
white girls shouldn't be shy and should speak up and
be proud of their beauty. That was one. But the
other big issue I got a lot of headlines is
because it was a sincere gaff in which she called J.
(15:15):
D Vance an assassin, and she said it sitting only
feet away from Erica Kirk. Stay here, we'll explain both
of those moments.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Welcome back everyone.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
We are talking about Nicki Minaj making a big old
splash at Turning Point USA. She was a surprise guest
of Erica Kirk's and she surprised a lot of us,
in fact, well at large, a large percentage of the population.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
The headlines you can see them this morning.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
People are not only surprised that Nicki Minaj was so
support of President Trump and his administration and very just
the effusive actually in her descriptions of them, but also
what she had to say about Jade Vance and also
about what she had to say about white women.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
I have to say my ears perked up.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
I mentioned I was running and I was listening to
this while and that part obviously really got my attention.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
It is not something that I was expecting to hear.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
And this is what she said. She was asked, particularly,
asked about motherhood, asked about a message she maybe had
to young girls and young boys, and she started by
talking about young girls, saying, quote, if as if as
black women, we felt as if we were not being
represented and not being admired for our beauty. If we
felt like that as black women, why would we want
to do that to other women. Why would we now
(16:45):
need to make other people downplay their beauty. That's not
how it works. I don't need someone with blonde hair
and blue eyes to downplay their beauty because I know
my beauty. It doesn't bother me that a woman feels
and says that she is beautiful. Why wouldn't she feel that?
Why have we gotten to the point where certain colors
or certain kinds of people have to be afraid of
(17:06):
loving themselves and the way they look. I'm gonna stop
right there for a second. Es I mean, she's yes,
I agree with just about all that.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
I agree with everything she said. I appreciated that she
said it, and all my mind went straight to with
Sidney Sweeney. I was thinking, and maybe I'm wrong, but
I was thinking that she might be loosely referencing that
or using what happened to Sidney Sweeney as the taking
off point to talk about let's let people be able
to celebrate who they are and what they look like,
(17:38):
no matter what race they are.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Here's the thing I agree with all of that. It
lacked context, and it lacked context that most black women
immediately and hearing that were probably shouting at the TV
when they heard it because there is context to what
we are saying. Yes, every woman should embrace their beauty,
their unique whatever it may be, the hair color, that color,
(18:01):
the hip side, whatever it may be. The problem is
that too many other folks that are in control of advertising,
how we see ourselves, think about ourselves, the money we spend,
the money we make, who gets hired and fired is
based on a standard of beauty that belongs exclusively to
white women. That is the context that was missing in there.
(18:23):
But I can't we should all agree with that sentiment. Yes,
one hundred percent, I agree.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
She went on to say, I don't want what was
done to little black girls done to little white girls.
I want all little girls in the world to know
that you are unique, you are beautiful. You can compliment
another girl, another woman, and still know you are epic
and amazing. And I appreciate your point what you just said,
the context that was missing, but I also appreciate the
(18:50):
fact that she said that.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
I do think that it does create.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
An opportunity for a conversation to be had that when
you start with that premise, then you can get into
those other details where I think people might be more
willing to go I see what you mean.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
I see what you mean.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Because they feel heard, or they feel seen, or they
at least feel recognized that there is this idea that
everybody should be treated and that's this perfect world with
a certain level of respect. But yes, that context is necessary,
that there is a reason why some voices need to
be heard more than others, at least given the history
(19:29):
and the current situation.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
I mean, this is like red meat to a particular crowd.
But it would have been really easy if President Trump
was delivering the same he would have said it in
a different way. And some conservatives say it differently. But
you're just saying none wrong with being white. Yeah, white
is awesome. She's not saying it that way. But she's saying, yes,
who Sidney, you white girl, you, Hispanic girl, you Asian girl, everybody.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Yeah, she actually called out all She actually said all
of those.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
And here is the this take us now to what
was the awkward, most uncomfortable and unfortunate moment. Really, she's
trying to make a statement there and trying to be
complimentary to the White House and to the administration into
some officials, and she just misspoke. I was wondering if
she misspoke. On the first part of this, in which
she was complimenting President Trump, she made a little face.
(20:21):
She was being cute. But you read that and you're like,
come on, Nikki, really not to say he's not a
dashing and handsome man.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, it's weird because she was making fun of Gavin
Newsom for his you know, his hair and his dashing
good looks. I think she even said, you think your
tom cruise except your next mission is impossible.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
You know, she was saying all of that.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
So, yes, this was interesting because Erica Kirk said, look,
I'm the mother of boys. You have boys, please speak
to young men as well, And so Nicki Minaj said,
as for young men, don't be new scum young men.
You have amazing role models like our handsome, dashing president,
(21:03):
and you have amazing role models like the assassin jd Vance.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
It's tough. And she almost immediately she stopped. She stopped,
and you were listening. I was looking at her. She
stopped and just looked mortified. I mean, she didn't completely
emote with her face. It just went I mean, if
she wasn't black, it might have gone white, like just
pale in that moment. And she put her hand up
(21:32):
and put it over her mouth, and she was so
I think she was so embarrassed because she know who
she's sitting in front of, right, and she knew that
moment and Erica, this is one you said it Robes.
Give Erica Kirk credit for just trying to help her
out of really an impossible situation. She just used the
word assassin in front of Erica Kirk.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
And unfortunately, for at least Nicki Minaj, anything that she
was trying to say or do or be come a
part of, or change the narrative up, it didn't matter
because every single headline today was about that. And you
know what, Look, anyone who has been in the public,
anyone who has spoken publicly or even repeatedly, has had
to you are going to make a mistake.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
You are going to say something you didn't mean to say.
A word could slip out that you didn't mean. All
of that can happen.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
So my heart went out to her in that moment
because it was an honest, genuine mistake.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
She did not mean to use that one.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
It was just an unfortunate one. And look, it's looks
she's a rapper in hip hop. The slang is thrown
around plenty, calling somebody ass it's a compliment. He's a
at a term, he's a killer. Yeah, you can go
after and eliminate targets. He's an assassin, right, That language
is thrown around. She was using. Possibly that's where her
head was. Who knows what was going on up there,
(22:49):
but she knows it was the wrong word. Look, I
appreciate I will say this about black folk. I do
not like, and we don't like when other folks outside
of our community try to box us in and say
we're all this or we're all that, and we all
like this music, I like this politics, I like this church,
or like whatever. Maybe we hate that. So I also
(23:12):
equally hate when black folks put each other into a
box to where we can't have a diversity of ideas,
like how dare you support that president? How dare you
have that view on that issue? So I look, you
can think what you want about Nicki Minaj, but I
just I don't like dismissing people just because their views
aren't necessarily exactly what somebody thinks should be in line
with the African American community. And how can you support
(23:35):
this guy giving what he's done to the minority communities,
all those things. We can have that debate. I just
don't think folks should be dismissed immediately just because you
might have a view that's not like the rest. So
for that, I will at least give Nicki Minage credit
for having us have this conversation. Other people say, y'all
are nuts. She's just doing this trying to remain relevant,
(23:57):
or she wants something, or she's trying something their sinx.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Well, I appreciate what you just said, because I think
if more people can have that attitude about all the
different opinions they have and just because someone may look
a certain way, it doesn't mean we can assume they
think a certain way. And I think that's a really
good way to go about life, actually, and to give
people that credit and give them that right to have
their own, unique formed opinions that don't have to fall
(24:22):
in line with where they were born, where they were from,
with the color of their skin, is what part of
the country they live in. We can all we all
have the right to think and believe what we think
is best for ourselves and our families. And so for that, yes,
Nicki Minaj stood up and she owned it.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
We shall see. I'm very curious to see what happens
with her moving forward. This is in her heart, but yeah,
it is just because of who it is and what
she looks like and is not the norm when it
comes to supporting this president.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
It got too much, all right, And with that everyone,
thank you for listening to us. I'm maybe Roebuck alongside TJ.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Holmes. We'll talk to you soon.
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