Nicki Minaj Lands Press Secretary Buzz After Mock Briefing on Air Force One

Nicki Minaj is cozying up to Donald Trump once again, and his staffers appear so dazzled by the rap superstar that one top official floated her as the next White House press secretary, while the president sang her praises in a much racier manner. On Sunday, Minaj posted selfies from Air Force One as she traveled with Team Trump on the way to a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, where the president boosted the state’s GOP hopefuls. During the flight, a conservatively dressed Minaj held a mock interview about Trump, fielding questions about the president’s achievements and answering in the formal style of a press secretary, a position that recently reopened after Katie Zacharia exited the role after less than a week on the job. Video of Minaj was posted to X by White House communications director Steven Cheung with the presumably tongue-in-cheek comment, “Ladies and gentlemen, I think we may have found the new White House press secretary! @NICKIMINAJ.” The White House’s X account soon responded with the eyes emoji, and Alex Bruesewitz, an adviser to the president, replied, “Hey Barbz, what do we think about this idea??” Minaj also reposted the video, adding an inscrutable combination of an American flag and a grinning face with a sweat drop. Speculation has grown since the video drew a huge response. At the Michigan rally, Trump repeated a compliment he made recently in Ohio, where he had focused on the physique of GOP Sen. Jon Husted. Those remarks had the president describing to his rally the beauty he found in Husted’s rear end, calling it “a pile of muscle.” After the comments drew significant press coverage, Trump owned up to the Michigan crowd, saying, “I looked at his [Husted’s] ass. I’ve never done that with a man before. Off the record, women, yes. Men, no.” “By the way, I’ve looked at one hell of a beautiful ass before,” Trump said, pointing toward his guest, “Nicki Minaj! That’s hard to miss! Stand up. That’s hard to miss.” Minaj then heard a roar from the crowd, and the president pumped his fist as the applause came in. “I’m going to get back to my story. I hope Nicki wasn’t insulted. We love Nicki. She’s been with us for a long time.” The Hollywood Reporter reached out to a rep for Minaj on Monday for comment on both viral moments. Minaj previously received an unexpected shoutout from Trump while attending a White House luncheon, when he called her “so hot” while announcing her attendance.