Nicki Minaj wants to make Hollywood great again – or at least, a little more honest.
The Grammy-nominated rapper, 43, opened up about her support of President Donald Trump in an interview with Time magazine published Wednesday, May 13.
Minaj has found herself in the political spotlight in recent months due to her vocal allyship with the president. In January, Minaj attended the Trump Accounts Summit, touting herself as “probably the president’s No. 1 fan.” That same month, she attended a screening of first lady Melania Trump‘s documentary, “Melania,” at the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center.
“Many celebrities feel the way I do, but they don’t say it,” Minaj told Time. “Sometimes, you just need one brave person to get the brunt of the impact. I think I am the catalyst for that change.”
She added: “Hopefully, when they see me and hear me speak and feel my energy, that will make them say, ‘You know what: Who am I afraid of? What am I afraid of?'”
Minaj, who paid a visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in South Florida for the interview, praised the president for his charisma: “It’s the same way Marilyn Monroe represents a vibe. Donald Trump is his own vibe.”
The “Super Freaky Girl” emcee said she’s been a longtime supporter of Trump but held off on voicing her political beliefs because of possible backlash from her music industry peers.
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“I felt that way already about him, just that I didn’t dare act like that publicly,” Minaj said. “It’s been ingrained in everyone’s brain in the music business that we are supposed to be a Democratic family. I just knew they would not like me supporting Trump.”
Minaj also cited her disappointment with Trump’s predecessor, former President Barack Obama, and his friendship with Minaj’s hip-hop rival, Jay-Z, as a motivator for her Trump support.
“I think Jay-Z ended up costing Obama a lot, whether he knows it or not,” Minaj said. “Lots of rappers don’t like Jay-Z and were afraid to say it.”
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In her personal life, Minaj said the support she received from the Republican Party after a series of alleged swatting incidents at her Los Angeles home helped change her perspective on her political advocacy. Florida congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna reportedly reached out to Minaj and connected her with federal law-enforcement officials and a private security firm she uses.
“I’d never seen anyone in politics treat me that way,” Minaj said. “That’s what made me say that I don’t care to keep this a secret anymore.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nicki Minaj says Trump support makes her a ‘catalyst’ for change
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