Minaj deactivates Instagram days after appearing at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, where she shared her political views and praised Trump.
Nicki Minaj has stepped away from Instagram following her recent appearance at a high-profile political event, sparking conversation across social media and the entertainment world.
The rapper, 43, deactivated her Instagram account days after she appeared at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest on Dec. 21 in Phoenix, Arizona. While her Instagram page is no longer active, her account on X (formerly Twitter) remains live, and she has continued to share posts there.
Minaj appeared at the event alongside Erika Kirk, the widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. It marked Erika’s first public appearance at the conference since her husband’s death earlier this year. The two walked onstage hand in hand and took part in a closing conversation at the annual gathering.
During the discussion, Minaj spoke openly about politics and her support for President Donald Trump. When asked what she learned from Trump’s administration, she said she admired him and felt he gave many people hope. She also explained why she decided to speak out politically, saying she felt pushed for too long and no longer wanted to worry about criticism from others.
“I’m not going to back down anymore,” Minaj told the crowd. “I’m not going to back down ever again.”
The rapper also criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, referencing past disagreements between them on social media. She went on to praise Trump as well as Vice President JD Vance, calling them strong role models for young people.
At one point, Minaj made a verbal slip while speaking about political leadership, mistakenly using the word “assassin” while referring to Vance. She quickly realized the error and reacted with visible shock, especially given that Charlie Kirk had been assassinated earlier this year. The moment grew quiet before Erika Kirk calmly reassured her, saying she had heard far worse and encouraging the conversation to move on.
Despite online reaction to the event, Minaj appeared unbothered. On the day of the conference, she reposted a clip on X in which Erika asked her about backlash from the music industry over her political views. Minaj responded simply that she hadn’t noticed. She added a caption that read, “Didn’t have a clue. Carry on.”
In the days after AmericaFest, Minaj continued posting photos and messages from the event on X. However, her decision to deactivate Instagram has raised questions among fans, especially given the timing.
As of now, Minaj has not publicly explained why she left Instagram. Whether the move is temporary or permanent remains unclear, but her presence on X shows she is not stepping away from public conversation entirely.
