Nicki Minaj defends Trump support after judging $1M pitch contest
Nicki Minaj says she loves United States President Donald Trump and will not make excuses for it.
She gave the answer on Fox News' The Ingraham Angle on 18 September. She was speaking after serving as a judge for the Trump administration's Million Dollar Pitch Competition for small businesses, according to Billboard.
Minaj appeared on the programme alongside Kelly Loeffler, the administrator of the Small Business Administration. That agency is the federal body that supports small firms with loans, advice and contracts. The two spoke about the pitch contest and why Minaj had agreed to take part.
The host asked what Minaj would say to critics of her work with Trump. Minaj replied, "Absolutely nothing." Her answer was brief. She then said she loves the president and will not apologise for saying so.
The contest itself brought five small-business finalists together to pitch their ideas live. They were competing for a share of a $1 million prize pool. The live finale was held in Washington, D.C. on 18 September. The money was described as growth capital, funds meant to help businesses expand, and was funded by payments company Clover Network.
The line-up had been set out in August. The Small Business Administration announced then that Minaj would judge alongside businessman Grant Cardone and Joe Gebbia, a co-founder of Airbnb. Actor Dean Cain would host the event. Cardone later appeared separately on The Ingraham Angle to explain his judging role, according to Fox News.
Minaj's support for Trump did not begin with the contest. In January, she appeared with him at a Trump Accounts event in Washington, D.C. There she described herself as his "No. 1 fan."
In the run-up to the finale, Minaj also used a Fox News appearance to share career advice for young people. Cain said the competition was meant to celebrate innovation, according to Fox News.
What makes this stand out is the mix of roles on display. Judging business pitches one moment, answering political questions the next. The finale put both parts on prime-time television.
