For years, Charlie Kirk was explicit about his views on Nicki Minaj.
In a video clip now circulating again online, the Turning Point USA founder criticized Minaj — alongside Cardi B — as a harmful influence on young Black women. “Black culture is being held captive by influences, songs, and role models,” Kirk said, arguing that artists like Minaj were not “good role models for 18-year-old Black girls.”
He pointed to sexually explicit lyrics, unfavorably compared modern artists to what he described as Black role models of the 1940s and 1950s, and rejected discussions of systemic racism as discouraging rather than empowering.
I agree with Charlie Kirk, Nikki Minaj is a bad influence.pic.twitter.com/8GnO8WSnuh
— Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) February 2, 2026
Fast forward, and the tone has shifted
In December 2025, Turning Point USA hosted Minaj at AmericaFest, its annual conference in Phoenix, drawing roughly 30,000 attendees. The event took place just months after Charlie Kirk’s death.
His widow, Erika Kirk — now TPUSA’s CEO and chair — conducted the onstage interview herself.
Minaj walked out to “Super Bass,” praised President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, and told the crowd that Trump had given people “hope that there’s a chance to beat the bad guys and win.”
NICKI MINAJ: “I’m not gonna back down anymore. I’m not gonna back down ever again.”@NICKIMINAJ and @MrsErikaKirk live at AmFest 2025 pic.twitter.com/jBa7RgveDW
— Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) December 21, 2025
She also made comments about gender — including saying “boys should be boys” — that drew criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates. Clips of the appearance were later shared by the White House on X.
Minaj’s political turn didn’t stop at AmericaFest
In January 2026, Minaj continued publicly aligning herself with the Trump administration.
On January 18, she attacked journalist Don Lemon on X after he covered an ICE protest at a Minnesota church, using a homophobic slur and calling for him to be jailed. When the exchange was raised later on The Katie Miller Podcast, Minaj dismissed the criticism and later acknowledged using the language deliberately to provoke attention.
Later that month, she appeared at the Trump Accounts Summit in Washington, D.C., declaring herself “probably the president’s number one fan” while standing onstage with Trump. She also posted a photo of a Trump Gold Card, claiming it had been given to her “free of charge.” A White House official later told The New York Times the card was merely a memento with no legal significance.
Minaj, a legal permanent resident for roughly two decades, went on to attend additional Trump-adjacent events, including the premiere of the documentary Melania at the Trump Kennedy Center.
Old comments, new context
As Minaj’s political alignment became more visible, older footage resurfaced.
One widely shared clip from a 2015 Tidal festival performance shows Minaj mocking Melania Trump and urging the audience to “pray to God you don’t get stuck with” someone like her. Minaj has not commented on the resurfaced clips.
And then there’s the Super Bowl question
In October 2025, Turning Point USA announced the All-American Halftime Show, a conservative counter-program to the NFL’s Super Bowl LX halftime show featuring Bad Bunny.
The broadcast is scheduled to air during halftime on February 8, 2026, across platforms including Real America’s Voice, TBN, YouTube, X, and Rumble. The announced lineup includes Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. Minaj was not named.
Still, following her appearance at AmericaFest, speculation has grown about whether she could appear as a surprise guest. Turning Point USA has not confirmed or denied whether additional performers will be involved.
Bad Bunny, meanwhile, won three Grammys on Sunday, including Album of the Year, and used his acceptance speech to criticize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while affirming immigrant identity.
Whether or not Nicki Minaj ultimately appears during Turning Point USA’s Super Bowl counter-program, one thing has already happened.
Charlie Kirk once framed her as a damaging influence on Black culture. Under Erika Kirk’s leadership, TPUSA has welcomed her onstage and embraced her as a political ally.
The earlier critique hasn’t been revised or explained. It’s simply been left behind.
And that silence may say more than any surprise halftime appearance ever could.
