On Sunday, the renowned rapper Nicki Minaj made an unexpected appearance at a conservative event in Arizona, held in memory of the late activist Charlie Kirk. During her stage time, she expressed her admiration for President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, describing them as exemplary figures for young men.

Minaj was interviewed at the AmericaFest convention by Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow. The discussion revolved around her newfound support for Trump, a figure she had previously criticized, as well as her outspoken stance against violence towards Christians in Nigeria.

In a moment of levity, Minaj poked fun at California Governor Gavin Newsom, using the nickname “New-scum,” which was coined by Trump. She went on to commend both Trump and Vance, who had received Erika Kirk’s endorsement as she assumed leadership of the influential conservative youth group. Meanwhile, Newsom, a Democrat, is seen as a potential contender for the 2028 presidential race.

“This administration is led by individuals with genuine heart and soul, and they make me proud,” Minaj commented. “Our vice president, well, I love them both. They both possess a unique ability to connect with people on a personal level.”

Minaj voiced her frustration with feeling “pushed around” and criticized the reluctance to embrace differing ideas, attributing it to a decline in critical thinking. Kirk praised Minaj for her bravery, despite facing criticism from the entertainment industry for her support of Trump.

“I haven’t noticed,” Minaj replied. “We don’t even think about them.” To which Kirk added, “We don’t have time to. We’re too busy building, right?”

“We’re the cool kids,” Minaj said.

The Trinidadian-born rapper is best known for her hits “Super Freaky Girl,” “Anaconda” and “Starships.” She has been nominated for 12 Grammy awards over the course of her career.

In 2018, Minaj was one of several celebrities condemning Trump’s zero-tolerance immigration policy that split more than 5,000 children from their families at the Mexico border. Back then, she shared her own story of arriving to the country at 5 years old, describing herself as an “illegal immigrant.”

“This is so scary to me. Please stop this. Can you try to imagine the terror & panic these kids feel right now?” she posted then on Instagram.

On Sunday on stage with Erika Kirk, Minaj said, “it’s OK to change your mind.”