icki Minaj is yet another attempt to distract from Trump’s plummeting bottom line

Please sign up for The Barbershop, Roy S. Johnson’s free weekly newsletter.This is an opinion column.Let’s get to the bottom of this. Not an ounce of pun intended, because the fact that we’re here — that we’re addressing the president debasing yet another woman, yet another Black woman, in public is egregious.You’ve likely already seen or heard: During a typical, dull, meandering two-hour speech at a Republican campaign rally last Sunday in Port Huron, Mich., Donald Trump paused during a sidebar musing on his recent comment about Republican Ohio Sen. Jon Husted’s “ass.”“By the way,” he said, “I looked at one hell of a beautiful ass before: Nicki Minaj.”He pointed to his right, towards where the 43-year-old, once-popular Black female rapper sat. Sat in tailored Gucci that hugged the frame she touted and exploited throughout her career.He paused and smiled as cheers rose from the audience.“That’s hard to miss,” he continued with a smirk that made my stomach wrench. “That’s — stand up! That’s hard to miss.”Minaj did as she was commanded, of course. It’s pathetic that we’re addressing yet another Black used-to-be celeb allowing themselves to be exploited by a president doing all in his power to degrade and diminish us. A president who’s done more damage to Black people than any since Woodrow Wilson. And yet Minaj stood and sheepishly waved when called, like an obedient melanin prize bathed in lurid cheers and leering eyes by the mostly white audience.It was disgusting— from the command that would (should) have gotten any other man fired before the smirk fell from his face; to Minaj’s pitiable twirl.But we’re here.We’re here because the president has torched even the most basic tenets of decency, all with a sickening smirk. Because he’s publicly insulted women — particularly Black women — so often that too many remain silent rather than rightfully condemn him.Nicki Minaj appears with President Donald Trump at a Republican midterm rally at McMorran Place in Port Huron on Sunday, Oct. 25 2026.MLive.comI have two children. I poured into my son to be kind to women, to be respectful, to honor them - because a woman birthed you. One day you may meet a woman who may become the mother of my grandchildren. Honor her, and she will return it to you.Clearly, Trump was taught such. Or he did not learn it. Or refused to. To my daughter, I preached (and still do): Never allow any man to be unkind, to disrespect or dishonor you in any way. If one does, well, pray I don’t find out about it.Listen, folks: Minaj is a distraction, merely the latest (at least of the typing) of many the president regularly wields to twist our heads from what truly matters.From the unwinnable war no one wanted, and the inflation and unaffordability it wrought. From hundreds of thousands of Americans who lost healthcare and food benefits to pay to lower taxes for Trump and friends. From policies and tariffs that have gutted farmers and small businesses. From the under-trained, armed and masked militia that is ripping brown people from our streets, tearing families apart like immoral, modern-day slavecatchers.From historically low approval ratings — 30% in early October, according to the Pew Research Center; that’s close friends and fam territory — that could manifest as a Republican wipeout in next week’s midterms.Or stunners in Alabama, where Democrats are guardedly optimistic about victories in races once widely deemed unwinnable: U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures’ congressional reelection race and former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones’ quixotic gubernatorial bid. But, hey, forget all that; look at Nicki Minaj’s beautiful ass — said the pimp behind the presidential shield.He’s certainly pimped the American people for his own enrichment. Since 2024, the president’s net worth has grown by $4 billion, according to Forbes. How much has yours grown?He’s pimped our status in the world, fist-bumping and shaky deal-making with world leaders that once (and still) make us cringe. Deals lashed even by fellow Republicans.He’s absolutely pimped women. He’s deemed many “qualified” for positions in the administration based on criteria that wouldn’t meet any DEI standards, then embarrassed them with quick, public firings when their unfitness is exposed. And Black women, especially Black female journalists, are a favorite target for abuse.It’s shameful that Minaj doesn’t acknowledge the sisterhood’s trials, perpetrated by the man to whom she fawns unfettered “forever and ever” fealty. Or the impact of the administration’s federal government purge, DEI attacks and besmirching of Black history on African Americans, on the people who once made her a star.Because Blacks are (were) disproportionately represented in the federal workforce, DOGE hit hard. About 30 percent of the estimated 426,000 full-time, civilian federal workers who left or lost their jobs since 2024 are African American, The Washington Post revealed. By comparison, reported federal employment declined by 4 percent among all other races, the Post reported.Because Elon Musk and his hired swords targeted positions related to DEI, along with the administration’s DEI attacks, resulted in the loss of more than 2,600 “diversity” or “D.E.I.” roles, says Revelio Labs, a workforce analytics firm.Last year, Black women, including college graduates, endured job losses more than other women, according to data analyzed by Valerie Wilson, an economist.Overall, Black unemployment sits at 7%, nearly double that of whites (3.6%) and of the national average. None of that appears to matter to Minaj, a native of Trinidad and Tobago who is not a U.S. citizen and thus cannot vote for Trump, as she claimed she would, “if you run again,” she said at the rally. Maybe Minaj needed the spotlight again, just needed to be on the stage. It doesn’t matter. She’s an irrelevant distraction from the vital truth that Trump is bottoming out while America, alas, may not have yet hit bottom.And there’s absolutely nothing beautiful about that.