The White House suddenly needs another press secretary. Naturally, the internet has decided it should be Nicki Minaj. After the abrupt departure of Katie Zacharia, who lasted roughly five days as President Donald Trump’s press secretary, an old claim that Minaj could take over the White House briefing room has resurfaced.
There is just one problem.
No credible evidence currently shows that Minaj is being considered for the job.
The rumor actually dates back to August, when Karoline Leavitt announced she was leaving the administration. A viral X post claimed Minaj would replace her, attracting more than a million views before fact-checkers traced the claim to a parody account. No White House announcement or credible news report ever supported it.
This time, however, the joke may feel slightly more plausible because Minaj’s relationship with Trump has become considerably more public.
At a White House-linked event in January, the rapper called herself the president’s “number one fan” and said criticism of Trump only motivated her to support him more.
That increasingly visible political alignment has made Minaj an easy name for social media users to toss into the White House staffing conversation whenever the job opens.
And right now, the position is very open.
Zacharia was named press secretary on October 9 after Leavitt stepped away from the role. Her first briefing lasted roughly 14 minutes and drew criticism for its limited number of questions and awkward delivery. She was also pressed over previous descriptions of herself as an attorney despite acknowledging that she never passed the California bar exam.
By Friday, Trump was publicly suggesting she might reconsider the position. Hours later, a White House official confirmed she had been let go.
That gives Zacharia one of the shortest tenures in the job’s history and puts the administration back in search of a spokesperson barely a week after announcing its last one.
Which brings us back to Minaj.
Would putting one of the world’s most recognizable rappers behind the White House podium generate attention?
Absolutely.
Would the briefings become appointment viewing?
Almost certainly.
Has the White House actually said she is under consideration?
No.
For now, Nicki Minaj as White House press secretary remains exactly what it was the first time around: an internet joke persuasive enough to become misinformation.
Although given the speed of recent developments, maybe nobody should leave Twitter unattended for too long.
