Nicki Minaj Reveals She Went Republican After Newsom 'Ignored' Her Home Swatting Pleas

Rapper Nicki Minaj has publicly explained that repeated swatting incidents at her home, false emergency calls that prompt heavily armed police responses, helped push her towards supporting the Republican Party, claiming California Governor Gavin Newsom failed to offer protection or take her concerns seriously.

Minaj alleged that her house was targeted multiple times, including with her young child inside, and that pleas for help were overlooked by Democratic officials. She has since aligned herself with conservative figures, including US President Donald Trump, and has criticised Newsom directly for inaction.

Nicki Minaj's Home Swatting Incidents

Swatting refers to hoax emergency calls designed to lure armed police or SWAT teams to a person's address. Minaj says she and her family have been subjected to several such incidents over the past few years.

In June 2023, a false call led police to believe a child abuse situation was occurring; while officers later confirmed it was a hoax, it nonetheless escalated into a traumatic confrontation for those involved. In a later event, a caller falsely claimed Minaj had been shot, leading authorities to respond again.

One recent case occurred in April 2025 when someone falsely reported an assault at her Hidden Hills, Los Angeles, home, prompting deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to respond, though she was not present at the time.

Minaj claimed that on previous occasions her home was swatted with her toddler inside, and she linked these events to what she described as 'political corruption' when responding to backlash over her comments on international issues.

Minaj's Criticism of Newsom and Turn to MAGA

Minaj has blamed Governor Gavin Newsom for not responding to her appeals for help over the swatting incidents. In vigorous social media posts, she has mockingly referred to him with nicknames such as 'TRANSKIDS NEWSOME' and 'GRUESOME', suggesting he prioritises other issues over her safety concerns.

Though Newsom has not publicly responded to these personal criticisms, his pro‑transgender rights messaging has drawn further ire from the rapper.

Minaj told The Katie Miller Podcast that seeing Trump 'being treated unfairly' and repeatedly targeted by critics, similar to how she felt she had been treated, fundamentally shaped her political shift. She said that witnessing what she saw as 'bullying and smear campaigns' against Trump made her feel that she could no longer remain apolitical, and ultimately inspired her to become more publicly involved in conservative politics.

Minaj's most defining public shift came in December 2025, when she appeared as a surprise guest at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Arizona, a major conservative gathering, alongside Erika Kir.

There, she openly praised President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance as leaders she admired, telling the audience that the administration made her 'proud to be American' and describing them as relatable figures for young people. This marked one of her first explicit and high‑profile endorsements of Republican political figures.

In early 2026, Minaj was invited to a Treasury Department‑hosted 'Trump Accounts Summit' where she stood beside Trump, called herself his 'number one fan' and showed off a so‑called Trump Gold Card, a visa‑related programme she said was helping with her U.S. citizenship process.

'MAGA Minaj' Fan Backlash

Minaj's outspoken alignment with Republican figures has provoked negative reactions from fans and critics alike. Social media responses ranged from disappointment and calls to 'move on' from her music to accusations that she had betrayed core parts of her fan base, including the LGBTQ+ community that once strongly supported her.

Some fans have reportedly unfollowed the artist on social platforms, and petitions such as 'Deport Nicki Minaj to Trinidad' even gained traction among critics on Reddit after her high‑profile appearance at conservative events. Users there noted that her political realignment had alienated parts of her traditional audience, fans she calls 'Barbz'.

Despite the backlash, Minaj maintains that her recent political activity was not motivated by opportunism but by personal conviction.