Nicki Minaj Faces Backlash After Republican Midterm Defeat
Nicki Minaj faced social media criticism after campaigning for the Republican Party in a midterm election that saw Democrats gain control of the House and Senate.
Democrats gained control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, marking a rebuke of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. The defeat followed high political scrutiny of the Trump administration, particularly regarding its conflict with Iran.
Rapper Nicki Minaj, a prominent GOP supporter, faced widespread social media criticism following the results. Minaj had actively urged fans to vote red and promoted anti-trans views, appearing at a campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on October 25. On Election Day, she was spotted at the Pinkerton Academy polling site in Derry, New Hampshire, despite being unable to vote. In those key states, Democrats Chris Pappas and Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican candidates John Sununu and Mike Rogers, respectively.
Reacting to the losses on X, Minaj congratulated Republican winners Anna Paulina Luna and Byron Donalds while criticizing the spending of approximately one billion dollars on a losing celebrity-filled campaign. She reiterated her support for Trump, stating, "I don’t vote, I VETO."
Amid the backlash, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung shared a video of Minaj aboard Air Force One, where she defended Trump's economic leadership based on his business background. Cheung suggested the rapper could potentially serve as the next White House Press Secretary.
