Nicki Minaj faces backlash over AI ‘twinning’ post with Trump on Presidents’ Day
Nicki Minaj sparked widespread criticism after sharing digitally altered photos of herself with Donald Trump to mark Presidents’ Day, prompting many fans to label the post ‘cringe’ and ‘tacky’.
The 43-year-old rapper took to X with two edited images that appeared to replace her husband, Kenneth Petty, with Trump. In the photos, Minaj and an AI-generated version of the 79-year-old president were seen riding in a car dressed in coordinated Barbie pink outfits. Trump flashed the ‘okay’ hand gesture, while Minaj counted stacks of cash. She captioned the post, ‘Happy #PresidentsDay.’
However, fans quickly noticed what appeared to be Petty’s reflection visible in the car window behind Trump’s head, fueling further mockery online. Some questioned why Minaj did not share an authentic photo with the president, especially given her recent public appearances alongside him. One user wrote, ‘Isn’t this cringe?’ while another added, ‘This is just tacky.’
Minaj, born Onika Tanya Maraj, has become an outspoken supporter of Trump in recent months. She has publicly backed both Trump and Vice President JD Vance, appeared onstage with Trump at the Trump Accounts Summit in January, and attended the premiere of a documentary centered on First Lady Melania Trump earlier this month.
Following one appearance, she referred to herself as the president’s ‘number one fan.’
Her political alignment has unsettled segments of her fanbase, known as the Barbz. Some supporters have reportedly blocked her on social media or discarded merchandise in protest.
Speculation has also circulated online regarding her motivations. Critics have suggested her support could be linked to hopes of securing presidential pardons for her husband and her brother, both of whom have past criminal convictions. Democratic strategist Mike Nellis publicly criticized her stance, calling it ‘embarrassing’ on social media.
The controversy marks a notable shift from Minaj’s earlier political commentary. In 2018, she spoke out against Trump’s immigration policies, recalling her own experience arriving in the United States at age five and condemning family separations at the border.
Long regarded as one of hip-hop’s most influential female artists, Minaj is no stranger to public disputes. Yet her recent political pivot appears to have generated some of the most significant backlash of her career.