An on-air correction was made on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News program on January 28, following a blunder where she confused rappers Nicki Minaj and Cardi B. This occurred during a discussion about Minaj’s recent presence at a Trump administration event held in Washington, D.C.
Ingraham, a 62-year-old host on The Ingraham Angle, was conversing with Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio about the Trump Accounts initiative. She incorrectly attributed the explicit 2020 hit “WAP” to Minaj, when it was, in fact, a collaboration between Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.
Earlier in the day, Minaj, 43, had attended a Treasury Department event at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in support of Trump Accounts, a program designed to aid parents in saving money for their newborns. At the event, the Trinidad-born rapper proclaimed herself the president’s most fervent supporter.
“I am probably the president’s number one fan, and that’s not going to change,” Minaj stated at the event alongside Trump, 79.
Ingraham, while interviewing Moreno during her show, brought up Minaj’s unexpected alliance with the president. The show used a chyron referring to the rapper as “MAGA Minaj” while Ingraham critiqued her music.
During the discussion, Ingraham, who identifies as a conservative, expressed distaste for some of Minaj’s song lyrics over the years and incorrectly attributed the song “WAP” to the rapper. A producer named Sam promptly corrected her over her earpiece, noting, “That’s Cardi B.” This resulted in an awkward pause on the live broadcast.
Ingraham thanked Sam for the correction, to which Moreno responded with laughter. Ingraham later apologized for the confusion, expressing disbelief that she’d mistakenly compared Minaj to Cardi B.
She also mentioned her preference for country music prior to her apology for the mix-up.
“WAP,” an acronym for an explicit phrase, was a 2020 release by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. The song was a cultural talking point due to its explicit nature, drawing frequent criticism from conservative commentators.
The error quickly spread on social media, with critics accusing Ingraham of failing to distinguish between black female entertainers. CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers was among those who commented on the incident.
Despite the correction, Ingraham continued her interview with Moreno, discussing the significance of Minaj’s support for Trump. Moreno argued that Minaj’s endorsement challenges stereotypes about Trump supporters.
At the Treasury Department event, Minaj joined Trump to promote the Trump Accounts program. The rapper openly addressed criticism about her conservative turn, saying it did not affect her. “It actually motivates me to support him more,” Minaj stated.
During the event, Minaj received a Trump Gold Card, a $1 million item with a $15,000 processing fee. Minaj, however, claimed to have received the card without charge. Trump stated that Minaj was investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in the Trump Accounts program.
The card received by Minaj was symbolic and not a legal visa document. Minaj has been a legal permanent resident for approximately two decades. Her immigration status has been a point of discussion, particularly given her public support for Trump’s policies. The Trinidad-born rapper admitted to entering the U.S. illegally as a child, at the age of five, but is now a green card holder, granting her permanent resident status.
The Trump Gold Card program has supporters who view it as a novel way to generate government revenue, and critics who question its implications.
Minaj’s alignment with Trump and conservative politics is a notable shift. Her presence at the event is one of the most high-profile celebrity endorsements Trump has received. Celebrity political endorsements are a long-standing feature of American politics, although they remain controversial, with critics questioning their influence over fans.
Minaj’s endorsement of Trump has garnered significant backlash from her fans and civil rights organizations. Despite this, she has remained unswerving in her support, using her platform to defend the president against what she sees as unfair attacks and smears.
The incident on The Ingraham Angle underscores the difficulties media personalities can face when covering topics outside their usual purview. Ingraham’s admission of being a country music fan rather than a hip-hop enthusiast may explain her unfamiliarity with the distinct careers and discographies of various rap artists. However, the error also reinforced longstanding criticism of some media figures’ inability to differentiate between Black entertainers.
The broadcast quickly became a hot topic on social media platforms, with clips of the correction shared widely across various networks. The rapid spread of the clip illustrates how quickly on-air errors can circulate in the digital age, where viewers can instantly share and comment on broadcast content.
The incident coincided with the same day Minaj made headlines for her appearance in the White House Oval Office and her enthusiastic support for the president. Her transformation into what some have dubbed “MAGA Minaj” is one of the more unexpected celebrity political alignments in recent history.
The Trump Accounts initiative, which brought Minaj to Washington, is designed to offer financial support to American families with newborns. The program is one of several family-focused policies promoted by the Trump administration. Supporters argue such programs aid American families in building wealth from an early age, while critics question the initiative’s long-term fiscal sustainability and whether affluent individuals like Minaj should represent initiatives intended to assist average Americans.
