Rapper Nicki Minaj was publicly complimented on her appearance by US President Donald Trump during a White House Rose Garden Club luncheon on Monday, when he described her as "so hot" while introducing her to attendees. The remark, delivered amid a string of other praise, drew criticism online for judging a woman's political worth by her looks rather than her ideas, and it highlights Minaj's increasingly close and much-scrutinised alignment with Trump.

Introducing the 43-year-old, Trump called her "so respected and so hot and so great" and a friend "of common sense", later returning to her during his roughly 35-minute speech. Some social media users branded the comment "gross" and "inappropriate", though Minaj appeared unbothered, sharing her visit under the hashtag "#WhiteHouseBarbie". The article notes her surprising shift towards the MAGA movement, having previously criticised Trump's first-term immigration policies; she has since backed his paid visa scheme and praised him publicly. Persistent rumours suggest she may be seeking a pardon for a family member, which the White House has denied.