New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday denounced rapper Nicki Minaj, asserting that President Donald Trump's rallies are "poisoning" the singer's mind.
"Maybe she oughta get outside and get offline a little more," Hochul told reporters. "And stop going to Trump rallies, it's kinda poisoning your mind."
The governor's remarks came after Minaj posted on X on Wednesday afternoon, labeling Hochul an "evil woman."
Minaj, who describes herself as Trump's "No. 1 fan," wrote, "The Democratic Party should forfeit her seat because even if she wins, she will be of great consequence to them."
She added, "Downward spiral for her. She will not escape God's wrath. She did not denounce evil when she had the chance."
Although she said in 2020 she would not "jump on the Donald Trump bandwagon," Minaj has recently become an outspoken supporter of the president and the GOP, pledging at a Michigan rally to back him again if he runs.
She has also been mentioned as a potential replacement for former White House Press Secretary Katie Zachary by White House communications director Steven Cheung, though the seriousness of that suggestion is unclear.
In various appearances with administration officials, Minaj has echoed Trump's false 2020 election claims, defended him after he alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, and promoted the debut of Trump-related accounts.
Republican gubernatorial challenger Bruce Blakeman also responded on social media, telling Minaj, "Nicki, I've got the U-Haul ready. It's time to fire the worst governor in America."
Blakeman trails Hochul in recent Siena University polling, which shows Hochul now holding a 14-point lead, up from a 9-point advantage in September.
Siena University reported that 68 percent of respondents believe Hochul will win the election, with 40 percent of Republican respondents sharing that view.
