The rapper, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, appeared at Turning Point USA’s AmFest event on Sunday, December 21, where she joined Erika Kirk for a live conversation. Things took an uncomfortable turn when Minaj accidentally referred to Vice President JD Vance as an “assassin.”
The mistake happened when Erika Kirk asked Minaj what message she would give to young men. While praising conservative leaders, Minaj said they had strong role models, including President Donald Trump and “the assassin JD Vance, our vice president.” Almost immediately, Minaj realised what she had said and put her head in her hands in visible embarrassment.
The moment was especially sensitive given that Erika’s husband, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated in September. Some members of the audience laughed nervously, but Erika quickly stepped in to defuse the situation. She reassured Minaj that she was not offended and encouraged her to move on, saying she had heard far worse and understood there was no bad intent.
Despite the slip, the atmosphere soon recovered. Minaj went on to speak warmly about President Trump, drawing loud cheers from the crowd. She said she had deep respect and admiration for him and praised the administration for giving people hope and leading with “heart and soul.”
Erika Kirk also brushed off the incident afterward, saying she knew Minaj’s heart and was not bothered by the comment, even joking that it would probably go viral online.
The appearance marked another high-profile moment for Turning Point USA, where Erika Kirk now serves as CEO following her husband’s death. During the event, she surprised attendees by openly endorsing Vice President JD Vance as a future presidential candidate, expressing her hope that he would eventually succeed President Trump as the 48th president of the United States.
While JD Vance has not announced any plans to run for president, the suggestion was met with loud applause, highlighting the strong support for him among the crowd.
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