Even the queen of rap isn’t immune to a classic Freudian slip.
Nicki Minaj found herself in an awkward moment during a surprise appearance at a Turning Point USA event after accidentally calling JD Vance an “assassin” while speaking on stage with Erika Kirk.
The slip-up occurred on Sunday, December 21, as the Grammy-winning rapper praised Donald Trump and the vice president. Minaj had called Trump and Vance “amazing role models” when she got it wrong, prompting her to instantly cover her mouth when she realized what she had said.
The moment came when Kirk asked Minaj what advice she would give to young men. “Don’t be Newscum,” Minaj began, repeating her nickname for California Governor Gavin Newsom. “Young men, you have incredible role models like our handsome and dashing president, and you have incredible role models like the assassin JD Vance, our vice president. And when I say that…” she trailed off, visibly realizing the gravity of her words.
Erika, whose husband Charlie was fatally shot during a debate on a college campus in September, quickly reassured her. “Believe me, there’s nothing new under the sun that I haven’t heard, so it’s all good,” she said. “I love you. You have to laugh about it.”
Minaj also responded to criticism over her increasingly right-wing views, ignoring the backlash. “I haven’t noticed… We don’t even think about them… We’re cool kids,” she said to cheers from the crowd.
When asked about the legacy she hopes to leave behind, Minaj responded simply, “That it’s okay to change your mind,” referring to her change in political thinking.
