Nicki Minaj responds after Trump aide jokes she could become White House press secretary

Nicki Minaj has responded to a senior Donald Trump adviser’s playful suggestion that she could become the next White House press secretary, after appearing alongside the president at a campaign rally in Michigan. Steven Cheung, the White House director of communications, posted footage of a conversation with the rapper on X on Sunday, October 25. He captioned it: “Ladies and gentlemen, I think we may have found the new White House Press Secretary!” Minaj replied with an American flag and a sweating-face emoji, without saying whether she was seriously interested in the role. The exchange came as Minaj joined Trump at a rally in Port Huron, where she spoke in support of his economic record and encouraged backing for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections. Before she addressed the crowd, Trump praised her appearance, drawing a reaction from supporters. He said he hoped she was not insulted and added that he and his supporters loved her. The article reports that the president needs a new press secretary after Katie Zacharia was said to have been dismissed following only five days in the job. It describes her tenure as the shortest for a White House press secretary and says her sole media briefing lasted about 15 minutes. The political backdrop was also part of the rally’s message. The report cited polling showing Trump’s approval rating at minus 61 percent, with a majority of voters saying they would prefer a Democrat-controlled Congress. Such a result could make it harder for the president to advance his legislative programme, according to the article. Minaj’s brief social-media reply, however, offered no confirmation that the press-secretary quip was anything more than a joke.