Gavin Newsom's Office Responds to Nicki Minaj White House Press Secretary Rumors

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office has responded to rumors that rapper Nicki Minaj could be considered for the role of White House press secretary, a suggestion that reignited a past public disagreement between the two.

The speculation arose after White House communications director Stephen Cheung posted on X, formerly Twitter, about Minaj, attaching a video of the artist praising former President Donald Trump. Cheung’s post, which suggested Minaj could be a potential replacement for press secretary following a brief tenure by Katie Zacharia, was met with a terse reply from Newsom’s office: “We can only pray.”

Minaj, who has previously expressed support for Trump and criticized Newsom, was seen at a Michigan rally supporting Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers and gubernatorial candidate John James. During the event, she appeared onstage with Trump, declaring her continued support for him.

Earlier in the year, Minaj had referred to Newsom with a nickname previously used by Trump and criticized his actions, stating he “completely ignored” her when she experienced swatting incidents at her home. She told Time magazine that she felt the governor had disregarded her concerns despite her tax contributions.

While White House staffers appeared to float the idea of Minaj as press secretary, it remains unclear how seriously the suggestion was intended. A White House spokesperson, when reached for comment, directed inquiries back to Cheung’s post. White House advisor Alex Bruesewitz also engaged with the rumors on X, asking followers for their thoughts, which garnered supportive responses from some fan accounts citing her experience with public scrutiny as transferable skills for political communications.