Rapper Nicki Minaj appeared onstage with President Donald Trump at a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, praised him, and led chants for Republican candidates, BBC News reported in a story by Max Matza published October 25, 2026.
What Minaj said
According to the BBC, Minaj told the crowd that Trump had “changed the energy of the country” and said, “He’s given us a future to look forward to.” The outlet reported she encouraged the audience to back Republican candidates in Michigan, calling the moment “a major turning point for our country.”
What Trump said onstage
BBC News reported that Trump praised Minaj as she left the stage, saying, “She never looked more beautiful,” and, “She gets it. She’s smart.” Earlier in his remarks, the BBC said Trump praised the rear end of a male Republican candidate, then turned to Minaj, saying, “I looked at a beautiful ass before. Nicki Minaj. That’s hard to miss,” before asking her to stand and adding that he hoped she was not “insulted.”
Allegation about El-Sayed’s faith
In the same speech, Trump focused on Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s Muslim faith and background, alleging El-Sayed would “invite jihadists” into America if he wins, the BBC reported. El-Sayed has criticized similar remarks as Islamophobic; in an ad to voters last week, he said Trump “thinks he can use my name and my faith to distract us from the suffering his policies are inflicting on us at the pump, at the grocery store, and at the doctor’s office,” according to the BBC.
Michigan race and campaign backdrop
The BBC reported that El-Sayed is in a tight Senate race with Republican Mike Rogers, with a little over a week until the November 3 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress for the remainder of Trump’s presidency. Former President Barack Obama held a rally with El-Sayed on Saturday, the outlet said.
Air Force One video and staffing note
The BBC reported Minaj traveled to Michigan aboard Air Force One and posted a video to X from the plane, playfully pretending to interview for the White House press secretary role. The position is currently open after Katie Zacharia left five days after a shaky public debut, per the BBC.
