Hochul says Trump rallies are 'poisoning' Nicki Minaj's mind after rapper's attack

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, hit back Wednesday at rapper Nicki Minaj. Minaj had used social media to attack the governor and urge her followers to vote for Hochul's Republican opponent. At a press conference, Hochul suggested Minaj "get outside" and warned that Trump's rallies are "poisoning your mind," TheWrap reported ².

The exchange comes six days before the Nov. 3 midterm election. Hochul is seeking re-election against Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman ².

What Minaj posted

In posts on X on Oct. 28, Minaj called Hochul an evil woman and said the Democratic Party should forfeit her seat, according to TheWrap ². She also wrote that Hochul will not escape God's wrath ².

A second post asked why Black people would vote for the governor, in capital letters, and ended with "Vote BLAKEMAN!" ² TheWrap said Minaj was responding to a video in which Hochul talked about opening the world up to Black kids growing up in the Bronx ².

From Channel GOPTrump on the Alaska ballot and the DOJ suitDonald Trump · 226 plays · captioned, with the source named

TheWrap quoted only fragments of Hochul's answer, not her full remarks. We are limiting our account to those fragments ².

From the Air Force One cabin to the stage

Minaj has become one of President Donald Trump's most visible celebrity backers. She flew with him on Air Force One to Michigan on Sunday, Oct. 25, and spoke at his rally in Port Huron ¹. She now calls herself his "No. 1 fan," USA TODAY reported ¹.

At that rally, Minaj told the crowd, "President Trump, it is an honor to stand with you every single time, and I will continue to support you forever and ever." She added that she would support him again if he ran again ¹. The 22nd Amendment bars anyone from being elected president more than twice ¹.

USA TODAY said Minaj once criticized Trump's immigration policies during his first term and publicly supported the LGBTQ+ community. Her turn toward him has built up over the past year. She has attended several White House events, and in January she declared herself Trump's biggest fan ¹.

Why it matters

That matters because the president's campaign swing is no longer just about the Senate and House races it was built around. At the Michigan rally, Trump and Minaj campaigned for Republicans, including former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers and GOP Rep. John James ¹. Days later, Minaj was urging New Yorkers to vote against Hochul ².

The pattern is familiar. Trump brings a famous ally to a rally, and the ally's influence reaches races far from the stage. Whether a rapper's posts move many votes in New York is unknown. Nothing in the reports we reviewed measures that.

What the reports do show is that the governor chose to answer her directly. Hochul tied Minaj's attack to Trump's rallies rather than treating it as a one-off.

What happens next

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Hochul and Blakeman will face New York voters then. USA TODAY said it had reached out to Minaj's representative for comment ¹.

The Record

1. Oct 25, 2026Minaj flew on Air Force One with Trump and spoke at his Port Huron, Michigan, rally ¹.
2. Oct 28, 2026Minaj attacked Hochul on X and urged votes for Blakeman ².
3. Oct 28, 2026Hochul told reporters Trump's rallies are "poisoning your mind" ².

Sources

1. USA Today, “Nicki Minaj's Trump support: How their alliance grew” (2026-10-26). usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/26/nicki-minaj-trum
2. TheWrap, “Nicki Minaj Attacks 'Demonic' NY Governor in Trump-Inspired Rant for MAGA Nominee” (2026-10-28). thewrap.com/media-platforms/politics/nicki-minaj-attacks-kat

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