A bold public nod to Donald Trump from rap queen Nicki Minaj has split her fanbase down the middle, but her longtime pal Amber Rose is drawing a line in the sand – insisting the backlash is all wrong-headed fury.
As celebrities wade deeper into politics this festive season, Rose's fiery defence highlights the raw tensions when stardom collides with ideology, leaving loyal supporters reeling and questioning long-held loyalties.
Amber Rose Defends Nicki Minaj Trump Endorsement Amid Fan Backlash
Amber Rose didn't mince words in a heated interview on Tuesday, 23 December, standing up for Nicki Minaj after the rapper's surprise appearance at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest on Sunday, 21 December. Minaj had stunned many by praising the president and his team during a chat with Erika Kirk, widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Rose, a vocal MAGA backer herself, dismissed claims that the move signalled homophobia, especially from Minaj's LGBTQ+ fans.
'She didn't say anything wrong,' Rose declared firmly. 'She didn't say anything about the LGBTQ+ community at all.' Pressed on whether backing Trump equates to anti-queer views, Rose pushed back with her own life as proof. 'Why do people think anybody over there [MAGA] is homophobic? I'm not homophobic,' she argued. 'My assistant has been with me for over 11 years. He's Black and gay. I have a bunch of trans friends. So does Nicki.'
The model voiced real bafflement at the narrative. 'I don't know why people twist our words or think because we endorse Trump that we just hate gay people and trans people. It's just not true.' She championed free speech too: 'We live in a free country.' On Minaj sitting down with Erika Kirk, Rose shrugged off the uproar. 'What's wrong with talking to Erika? That's what I mean. Like, I just don't get the logic behind why people are upset.'
For Minaj's die-hard fans – many from queer communities who found empowerment in hits like Beez in the Trap and Starships – the pivot stings deeply. They've rallied around her as a trailblazer against industry odds, only to feel betrayed by apparent alignment with policies seen as hostile. Social media erupted with pleas and unfollows, turning personal icons into political battlegrounds. Parents who introduced kids to her anthems now navigate awkward chats about voting blocs and values.
Rose's stance underscores a broader rift in entertainment circles. Friendships forged in music and modelling now weather ideological storms, with everyday listeners caught in the crossfire. One fan's empowerment anthem becomes another's tone-deaf endorsement, eroding trust built over decades.
Nicki Minaj Praises Trump in AmericaFest Shock as Amber Rose Rallies
Minaj's AmericaFest moment was electric – and awkward. She called President Trump 'handsome' and 'dashing', gushing: 'This administration is full of people with heart and soul, and they make me proud of them.' On Vice President J.D. Vance, she said: 'Our vice president, he makes me... well, I love both of them. Both of them have a very uncanny ability to be someone that you relate to.'
The slip-up came when she dubbed Vance 'the assassin', a phrase that jarred given Charlie Kirk's assassination in September. Still, Minaj doubled down, marking a U-turn from her past jabs at Trump's immigration stance. Her MAGA reveal blindsided followers, amplifying the cultural quake.
This isn't abstract drama; it hits real people. LGBTQ+ fans who saw Minaj as an ally grapple with cognitive dissonance – does one event erase years of solidarity? Black women who hailed her as a boss now weigh political endorsements against personal heroes. Rose's personal anecdotes aim to humanise, but for critics, actions speak louder.
The episode spotlights pop culture's political minefield in late 2025. Artists once apolitical now pick sides, risking fan exodus amid polarised times. Minaj's shift – from critic to cheerleader – mirrors others navigating fame's tightrope, where authenticity clashes with conviction.
Rose's defence adds layers: loyalty trumps optics, she argues, urging space for nuance. Yet as boycotts brew and streams dip, the human cost mounts – fractured communities, lost connections. For Minaj, once untouchable, it's a test of resilience; for fans, a prompt to rethink blind devotion.
In a year of election aftershocks, this row reminds us: celebrities are human, flawed and opinionated. Rose calls for grace, but the divide runs deep. Will Minaj address it directly, or let actions stand? Her silence so far fans the flames, leaving a fandom forever altered.
