Nicki Minaj appears to have gone full-blown MAGA, and her long-running feud with Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter is now spilling into politics.
The “Barbie World” rapper claimed Jay-Z’s close friendship with Barack Obama cost the former president “a lot,” alleging that many rappers secretly dislike the Roc Nation founder. Her comments are just the latest in a string of attacks against the rap mogul, whom she has accused of trying to sabotage her career through his label.
Minaj also revealed that her political shift was partly fueled by California Governor Gavin Newsom, whom she claimed “completely ignored” her when she reached out for help.
Nicki Minaj Claims Obama Paid For Jay-Z Friendship
Minaj has opened up about her transition to the right, and her political shift has once again dragged Jay-Z into the spotlight.
In a revealing new interview with Time magazine, the rapper claimed Obama paid a price for his close ties with the “Empire State of Mind” hitmaker.
Minaj, who has become increasingly vocal about her shift toward the Republican Party, alleged that Obama inadvertently inherited the resentment many rappers hold toward Jay-Z and his concentrated power in the entertainment world.
“I think Jay-Z ended up costing Obama a lot, whether he knows it or not,” she said. “Lots of rappers don’t like Jay-Z and were afraid to say it.”
Minaj Says Black Men Felt Ignored By Obama
Minaj’s discontent with Democrats seemingly reached a breaking point during the 2024 election cycle, when she took issue with Obama’s campaign efforts on behalf of Kamala Harris.
Specifically, she pointed to his remarks addressing Black male voters’ hesitation toward a female president, which she described as condescending.
“I just saw so many videos of Black men saying that they didn’t like the way they felt about that speech that Obama gave,” she explained. “They felt like they weren’t being listened to.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Minaj spoke about her years-long private admiration for Trump, but noted that she could not go public with it because she feared alienating her fans.
Nicki Minaj Says Newsom Snub Started Her GOP Turn
According to Minaj, the tipping point that pushed her to go public with her conservative views came after Newsom “completely ignored” her.
The “Side to Side” rapper explained that her L.A. mansion was targeted by multiple swatting calls between 2022 and 2023, prompting her to request a meeting with Newsom. However, she alleged that the governor “completely ignored me, with all the money I pay in taxes.”
After an April 2025 swatting incident, Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna reportedly helped her by connecting her with law enforcement and private security.
According to Forbes, the gesture left an impression on Minaj, who said she had “never seen anyone in politics treat me that way.” After that, she became openly Republican and has been proudly flaunting her political shift ever since.
Inside Minaj’s Long-Running Feud With Jay-Z
Minaj has long accused Roc Nation of being her Achilles heel in the industry and has repeatedly voiced concerns about what she sees as Jay-Z’s concentrated power and influence.
Back in 2025, she claimed the label had been “begging” her to record an album and go on another tour, but said she declined.
She then threatened to cancel the release of her sixth studio album and pointed the finger at the billionaire music mogul, according to Billboard.
“Ok, I’m not going to put out the album anymore. No more music. Hope you’re happy now [JAY-Z],” she wrote. In the past, Minaj has accused Roc Nation of blackballing her and also owing her up to $200 million.
Nicki Minaj Previously Made Explosive Allegations Against Jay-Z
The connection between Minaj’s album release and Jay-Z’s label remains unclear, as she is signed to Republic Records/Universal Music Group and is not managed by Roc Nation.
During this year’s Grammy Awards ceremony, Trevor Noah roasted Minaj for her newfound public support for Trump and the Republican Party while hosting the show.
However, the “Bang Bang” rapper later took to X to slam Jay-Z, sharing photos of him posing with Aaliyah and Beyoncé in 1996 and 1997, along with their ages at the time.
“Are y’all understanding that these ppl have been sacrificing children as a way of gaining & maintaining power?” she wrote in the lengthy rant. “If you ever vote DemonCrat again, you’re just as soulless as they are & will perish.”