Donald Trump jokes Nicki Minaj twerking during White House Correspondents' Dinner
President Donald Trump referenced the April 2024 White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting in his remarks at the rescheduled dinner, saying that when guests heard gunshots and were shouted to "get down," rapper Nicki Minaj supposedly started twerking. The joke was delivered despite Minaj not being present at either the original or the July 24‑25 event.
Minaj responded on X with a single image of a pink‑haired Chucky doll captioned, "How I’ll be looking @ the President next time I see him," which quickly went viral. The joke sparked criticism for invoking racist and sexist tropes that hyper‑sexualise Black women, and for joking about a violent shooting. Critics also noted Trump’s prior praise of Minaj, calling her "so hot and so great" at a White House Rose Garden event, and highlighted the broader context of the April incident, where a gunman breaching security was arrested and charged with federal felonies.
The rescheduled dinner took place at the Waldorf Astoria under tighter security, and the exchange has become a flashpoint in debates over political rhetoric, race, and celebrity involvement in politics.
Entities: Cole Allen · Donald Trump · Nicki Minaj · Waldorf Astoria · White House Correspondents' Dinner
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Nicki Minaj was not present at either the original April 2024 or the rescheduled July 2024 White House Correspondents' Dinner. (event reports)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The gunman was identified as 31‑year‑old California resident Cole Allen, who faces four federal felony charges including attempted assassination of the president. (CBS News and other sources)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Critics said Trump’s joke invoked racist and sexist tropes that hyper‑sexualise Black women. (media commentary)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner was held on July 24‑25 at the Waldorf Astoria under tighter security. (event coverage)
- [● 11 SOURCES] The White House Correspondents' Dinner originally scheduled for April 2024 was halted because a gunman opened fire on guests. (news reports)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Nicki Minaj posted an image of a pink‑haired Chucky doll on X, captioned “How I’ll be looking @ the President next time I see him.” (Nicki Minaj’s X post)
- [● 12 SOURCES] Donald Trump said, “After hearing the gunshots, many people yelled ‘Get down!’ which caused Nicki Minaj to start twerking.” (Donald Trump)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Donald Trump previously praised Nicki Minaj at a White House Rose Garden event, calling her “so hot and so great.” (Trump’s remarks at the Rose Garden)