Popular music superstar Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance at the “AmericaFest” event on Sunday, December 21st. She took the stage at the annual conference hosted by Turning Point USA and engaged in a conversation with CEO Erika Kirk, participating in a Q&A session. Erika Kirk, who took over the conservative nonprofit organization founded by her late husband Charlie Kirk after his assassination on September 10th, mentioned that Charlie always managed to bring surprises to every AmericaFest event.
During the opening of the conversation, Kirk asked the singer of “Starships” to revisit her previous post on X platform criticizing California Democratic Governor Newsom. Minaj, who resides in California, expressed her criticisms of policies including limiting parents’ understanding of their children’s gender identity.
Subsequently, Kirk allowed Minaj to freely express her views on the related issues. The event on Sunday marked the first annual conference of “Turning Point USA” since Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Rumors had circulated before the event that Minaj might attend, but it was only when she appeared on stage on Sunday that the news was officially confirmed.
During the conversation, Minaj also made it clear that she opposes Newsom and supports U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. “I love both of them,” Minaj said.
In a slightly awkward moment during the conversation between the two women, Nicki Minaj used the term “assassin” with a positive tone, referring to Vice President JD Vance as an example. Kirk skillfully defused the tension, reassuring Minaj that it was okay and expressing her understanding.
Minaj’s unexpected appearance at the event in Phoenix marks her latest venture into politics. Recently, she has been speaking out about the persecution of Nigerian Christians. Nigeria is a West African country with an equal proportion of Christian and Muslim populations. The recent surge in violence against Christians in the northern part of the country, including attacks, kidnappings, and murders, has raised concerns among Western countries.
In early December, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. would restrict entry for any Nigerians involved in the violence against Christians. Minaj also praised the government’s actions on this matter.
In November, Minaj retweeted a post by Trump on Truth Social mentioning the situation in Nigeria. She wrote on X at that time, “Reading this fills my heart with deep gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should be persecuted for practicing their faith.”
She added, “We don’t have to share the same beliefs to respect each other. Many countries around the world are being impacted by this kind of terrorism, and turning a blind eye is very dangerous.”
Minaj’s public statements and actions reflect her growing involvement in political and social issues, as she uses her platform to address important topics and advocate for justice and respect for all.