Nicki Minaj attacks Gov. Hochul and urges vote for Blakeman; Hochul says Trump rallies poison her mind

Rapper Nicki Minaj attacked New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, in a series of posts on X this week, calling her evil and urging voters to back Republican Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County Executive, in the governor's election less than a week away. Minaj, who was raised in Queens, said the Democratic Party should give up Hochul's seat, predicted a downward spiral for her and said she would not escape God's wrath. She cited remarks Hochul made at the Milken Institute Global Conference in May 2024, when Hochul said Black kids in the Bronx did not know what computers were. Asked about the posts by reporters, Hochul said Minaj should get outside, get offline more and stop going to Trump rallies, which she said was poisoning the rapper's mind. Blakeman wrote on X that he had the U-Haul ready for Minaj and that it was time to fire the worst governor in America. Minaj has been campaigning for Republicans and Trump-backed candidates. Blakeman and Hochul held one debate earlier this month.

Right-leaning outlets lead with Minaj's attack. The New York Post frames it as her going scorched earth, quotes her all-caps follow-up urging Black voters and Christians to vote for Blakeman, and explains the Bronx computer remark. The Daily Mail instead opens with speculation that Trump floated Minaj as a White House press secretary. It adds that Hochul seemed shocked and shook her head, and features Blakeman's U-Haul post and a photo of Minaj at a Turning Point USA summit. Both include Hochul's rally comment. Alternative coverage splits: The Hill leads with Hochul's reply, while TMZ covers an unrelated item, ex-friend Rah Ali saying Minaj is out to destroy her. Left-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while right-leaning and alternative outlets had.