Nicki Minaj Draws Right-Wing Defense Amid Bot Amplification Allegations
2026-02-25 - 19:55
High-profile allies of U.S. President Donald Trump have rallied behind rapper Nicki Minaj following a report by POLITICO that questioned the authenticity of engagement on her social media accounts. The outlet cited findings from disinformation detection firm Cyabra, which analyzed Minaj’s activity on X and concluded that a significant portion of interactions on her posts, particularly those aligned with right-leaning causes, appeared to come from inauthentic accounts. According to the company, it was approximately 85 percent confident that nearly 19,000 of 55,469 reviewed profiles were fake. The analysis was reportedly commissioned by an anonymous individual citing fears of public retaliation. The report drew swift criticism from prominent Trump allies, including U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz and Trump media adviser Alex Bruesewitz. Both dismissed the findings as unfounded. Bruesewitz took to X to defend Minaj, writing that the chart-topping artist did not require automated accounts to boost her online presence. Waltz echoed the sentiment, arguing that Minaj’s commercial success and popularity undermine claims that artificial amplification was necessary. Minaj herself has not publicly responded to the allegations. Cyabra CEO Dan Brahmy rejected suggestions that the firm’s conclusions were politically motivated or influenced by industry rivalries. He described the analysis as “scientific and data-driven,” maintaining that any assertion of bias was false. The controversy quickly expanded beyond political circles into hip-hop rivalries. Bruesewitz and Minaj’s supporters questioned Cyabra’s independence by highlighting past affiliations between the company and figures connected to artists viewed as rivals of Minaj. Among those drawn into the dispute was rapper Cardi B, a long-time adversary of Minaj. Cardi B publicly sparred with Bruesewitz on X, defending the legitimacy of data analysis while rejecting suggestions that her professional network influenced Cyabra’s findings. Bruesewitz pointed to connections between Cyabra and executives tied to Roc Nation, the entertainment company that represents rapper Megan Thee Stallion, another artist frequently positioned as a rival to Minaj. He referenced the advisory roles of Roc Nation’s chief digital officer and Cardi B’s agent, Mike Guirguis, on a Cyabra council page that was later removed. Guirguis responded that his advisory and investment roles in technology companies were independent of his work representing artists. He also noted that he represents Lil Wayne, whose label Minaj was previously signed to, underscoring the complex professional ties within the industry. Cardi B and Bruesewitz exchanged a series of posts criticizing one another, escalating what began as a debate over data integrity into a broader clash blending politics, technology, and longstanding tensions within the rap community. As of now, Cyabra stands by its methodology, while Trump allies continue to frame the report as an attempt to discredit a high-profile artist who has increasingly engaged with conservative-leaning narratives online.