Rapper Nicki Minaj’s recent embrace of MAGA politics could be an early signal of trouble for Democrats heading into next year’s midterm elections, according to Alex Swoyer, editor at large for the Washington Times.
Speaking Monday on “America Reports,” Swoyer argued that high-profile shifts like Minaj’s can reflect a broader realignment among voters who previously leaned anti-Trump.
“If someone like her [Minaj] can make this transformation, I think that speaks volumes about the type of voters that also can across the country,” Swoyer said.
“We saw it in 2024 with the popular vote, and I think we’ll see it again. It could spell trouble for Democrats with the midterms.”
Swoyer noted that the president’s party typically loses seats in midterm elections, but suggested Minaj’s visibility could help Republicans “expand their tent” and attract voters who might not usually consider switching sides.
Minaj made a surprise appearance Sunday at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, joining Erika Kirk onstage for a Q&A. She has also previously partnered with the Trump White House at the United Nations to speak about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
“I’m honored to be here,” Minaj said after Kirk introduced her.
During the appearance, Minaj praised both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, saying they have an “uncanny” ability to connect with everyday Americans.
Her appearance was quickly celebrated in conservative circles.
PragerU personality Xaviaer DuRousseau called the moment “absolutely iconic,” adding that he wasn’t surprised. On Monday’s “The Will Cain Show,” he argued that Minaj’s shift fits a pattern he’s watched develop over time.
He said he believes the left has spent years demonizing Trump and spreading propaganda about him for challenging entrenched power in Washington — and that Minaj, in his view, has faced similar treatment for calling out wrongdoing in the entertainment industry.
“For over a decade, she has been exposing corruption, fraud, and exploitation in the entertainment space,” DuRousseau said, arguing that critics try to portray her as a villain even though, he claimed, she’s focused on protecting freedoms, prioritizing faith, protecting children, and restoring what he described as a more “sane society.”
Separately, “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade suggested Monday that the increasingly warm reception Trump has received from rappers like 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, and now Minaj could reflect a broader cultural shift — one where more people begin reassessing political views without relying on what he described as a media filter.
