Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-30**Lead**
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and global rap superstar Nicki Minaj have become embroiled in a fiery public feud after the governor made a thinly veiled jab at the artist’s past association with former President Donald Trump. Minaj, never one to shy away from confrontation, responded by calling Hochul an “evil woman” during a livestream on Friday, igniting a political and cultural firestorm that has dominated headlines across the United States.
**Contexto**
The clash began earlier this week when Governor Hochul, speaking at a Democratic fundraiser in Manhattan, referenced the 2024 presidential race and took a swipe at celebrities who have aligned themselves with Trump. Without naming Minaj directly, Hochul said, “We’ve seen certain pop stars cozy up to a convicted felon and then pretend they care about women’s rights. New Yorkers see through the hypocrisy.” The remark was widely interpreted as a reference to Minaj, who has publicly expressed admiration for Trump in the past and whose husband, Kenneth Petty, is a registered sex offender.
Minaj, a Trinidadian-American rapper born in Saint James, has a long history of controversial political statements. In 2020, she claimed she was “not a Democrat” and suggested she might vote for Trump, though she later clarified that she was undecided. She has also been a vocal critic of the Biden administration and vaccine mandates, which she says infringed on personal freedoms. Her husband’s legal history has been a recurring target of her critics, and Minaj has frequently defended him, accusing the media of bias.
Governor Hochul, who took office in 2021 after Andrew Cuomo’s resignation, has positioned herself as a staunch defender of women’s rights and public health. She has made reproductive freedom a cornerstone of her platform, especially after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Her jab at Minaj was seen as an attempt to rally progressive voters by drawing a contrast between her values and those of celebrities who have flirted with Trump’s orbit.
**Analise**
This exchange is more than just a celebrity spat; it reflects the deepening cultural and political divides in America. Minaj’s fanbase, known as the Barbz, is a highly mobilized online force that has previously targeted politicians and media figures. Within hours of Hochul’s remarks, the hashtag #HochulIsEvil was trending on X (formerly Twitter), with thousands of users sharing clips of Minaj’s response. The rapper accused the governor of using her platform to attack a Black woman from Queens, saying, “You sit in your mansion and call me a hypocrite? You’re the evil woman who signed laws that keep poor people in jail while your donors walk free.”
Hochul’s camp fired back with a statement that did not mention Minaj by name but said, “The governor stands by her commitment to holding everyone accountable, regardless of fame. New Yorkers deserve leaders who don’t cosign dangerous rhetoric.” The governor herself later told reporters, “I’m not afraid of a rapper. I’m afraid of the policies that hurt working families. If the shoe fits, wear it.”
The feud also highlights the tricky terrain for politicians who engage with pop culture. While Hochul’s base may applaud her willingness to call out a celebrity, she risks alienating younger voters and communities of color who see Minaj as a symbol of unapologetic Black success. Minaj, for her part, has successfully framed the dispute as a battle between a powerful white politician and a Black woman from the boroughs, a narrative that resonates deeply in New York’s political landscape.
**Fontes**
This report is based on verified statements from Governor Kathy Hochul’s official press release, Nicki Minaj’s livestream broadcast on October 28, 2026, and coverage from The New York Times, CNN, and The Associated Press. No direct interviews were conducted by FORTIS NEWS.