Nicki Minaj posted a picture that appeared to show her sitting in a car with President Donald Trump, both dressed in pink. The image quickly spread on social media as users questioned its authenticity.
Minaj shared the image on X late Sunday, February 16, with the caption “Happy #PresidentsDay,” according to Newsweek and other outlets that shared the post. It went viral within hours, sparking mixed reactions as people debated whether the photo showed a real meeting between the rapper and the president.
Independent fact-checkers later determined that the image was created using artificial intelligence and did not depict a real moment between Minaj and Trump, as reported by Newsweek. Reverse-image searches traced the picture to an Instagram account known for posting AI-generated celebrity visuals. TMZ also described the images as AI-created and reposted Minaj’s Presidents Day caption alongside screenshots of the post.Online reactions were sharply divided. One user wrote, “Come on Nicki your fans deserve more than this are you retiring or nah?” Another commented, “Can’t tell if this is AI or not but I love it. Seems like something Trump would do just to troll the left.”
The post reportedly gained millions of views on X by Monday morning. Screenshots and reposts spread across platforms, fueling a broader conversation about how quickly synthetic images can circulate when shared by major celebrity accounts — especially when they are not labeled as AI-generated.
The viral post came as Minaj has recently spoken more openly about her support for Trump. In an interview on “The Katie Miller Podcast,” she explained her position in personal terms, saying she related to how Trump was treated publicly and felt he was subjected to bullying and smear campaigns similar to what she experienced.
Minaj also mentioned that she cares about issues such as religious freedom and said she had reached out to Trump during the campaign to ask questions.
Earlier this month, comedian Mike Epps publicly apologized after making a crude joke involving Minaj and Trump during a stand-up performance in Louisville, Kentucky, on February 6. He later said on Instagram Stories that he had “prayed on it” and wanted to apologize to Minaj and her family.
The Presidents Day image continued circulating into Tuesday, February 17, as various outlets and social media accounts reposted screenshots and confirmed it was AI-generated. Minaj did not credit the origin of the image, and the post added to ongoing discussion surrounding her political stance and the reaction from some of her supporters.