Nicki Minaj Feuds With Gavin Newsom as Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘Hiss’ Becomes Political Diss
Nicki Minaj and Gavin Newsom
Rapper Nicki Minaj has turned her attention to a new political target, unleashing a flurry of social media attacks against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has so far responded with little more than a cryptic and carefully chosen musical jab.
Over the past several days, Minaj has posted more than two dozen messages on X criticizing Newsom, mocking his appearance, questioning his political relevance, and encouraging her fan base to confront him online. Newsom, by contrast, has largely ignored the barrage.
His lone response came Saturday, when he posted a zipped-lips emoji alongside a short video clip set to Megan Thee Stallion’s 2024 diss track “Hiss,” a song widely associated with the rapper’s feud with Minaj. The video featured footage of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, a pairing that carried its own pointed subtext.
Although Newsom did not mention Minaj by name, the reference was widely interpreted as deliberate. The choice of song and visuals appeared to serve as a restrained but unmistakable rebuke, signaling that the governor was aware of Minaj’s attacks but unwilling to engage directly.
Minaj, however, escalated. After Newsom’s post, she declared “war” on the governor, urging her fans — known as the Barbz — to take him on. She labeled Newsom “wicked,” mocked his political future, and issued a series of ominous warnings suggesting she could “go a lot deeper.”
Among her posts, Minaj accused Newsom of becoming “nothing more than a Nicki Minaj ANTI,” derided him as a career politician “with everything to lose,” and ridiculed him with taunts about his ambitions and image. The volume and intensity of the posts far outpaced Newsom’s restrained response.
Despite Minaj’s efforts to provoke a broader clash, the governor has resisted further engagement, declining to reply as the online feud grew louder. His silence has only fueled Minaj’s commentary, but it has also underscored the imbalance in how the two sides are approaching the conflict.
In between attacking Newsom, Minaj used her platform to amplify pro-Trump messaging, reposting White House content and praising footage of Trump at the Army–Navy game. She has increasingly aligned herself with MAGA rhetoric and figures, a sharp turn from her earlier public stances.
Minaj has also embraced causes popular on the political right, including claims about violence against Christians in Nigeria, and has drawn praise from Vice President JD Vance, who recently weighed in on a separate rap rivalry by tweeting, “Nicki > Cardi.”
The rapper’s political transformation has drawn wider attention. A recent report by The Washington Post described her shift as the “MAGA-fication of Nicki Minaj,” noting that an artist who once championed LGBTQ+ people and immigrants is now openly praising an administration criticized for targeting those same groups — a pivot that continues to blur the line between pop stardom, politics, and online spectacle.
