Michigan, United States, October 28, 2026: United States President Donald Trump praised rapper Nicki Minaj’s body in front of a rally crowd in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday 25 October 2026. He told her to stand up, then said he hoped she was not insulted.

Trump made the remark while explaining earlier comments about Ohio Senator Jon Husted’s physique. The New Republic quoted him saying: “By the way, I looked at one hell of a beautiful ass before: Nicki Minaj!”

Minaj, who was seated in the audience at McMorran Place Arena, stood and waved as the crowd cheered, TMZ reported. Trump then said he hoped she was not “insulted”. He said he made the Husted comments in fun, according to Rolling Stone.

Minaj had travelled to the rally with Trump on Air Force One to back Republican candidates Mike Rogers and John James. Nearly an hour after the remark, Trump introduced her onstage.

She led the crowd in a chant of support for him and did not mention the comment in her speech, a Yahoo Entertainment report said. Newsweek quoted her saying she was “so honored to be working with this president”. Trump said she had never looked more beautiful as she left the stage.

Minaj told Trump near the end of her remarks that she would support him again if he ran again, Rolling Stone reported. She also pledged to support him “forever and ever”.

The reports reviewed contain no public response from Minaj to the remark itself. They also contain no comment from the White House on it.

Reaction

Some critics called the comment vulgar, and others said it was meant to distract from the Husted remarks, LittleThings reported. Others treated it as a light moment on the campaign trail. Rolling Stone described it as part of Trump’s closing message with the midterm elections just over a week away.

Background

Minaj, born in Trinidad and Tobago, once criticised Trump’s hardline immigration policies, AFP reported. In January 2026 she called herself the president’s “number one fan” at an event promoting Trump Accounts, trust funds for children.

Trump has commented on her appearance before. At a White House lunch in July he called her “so respected and so hot”. On 24 July he joked at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner that gunshot warnings made her start twerking, Atlanta Black Star reported. Minaj answered that joke with an image of the doll Chucky, according to a report on the exchange.

Gender Lens Africa’s Global Lens analysis examines how the public appraisal of Black women’s bodies connects to the history of Sarah Baartman.