Nicki Minaj is not being considered for White House press secretary, an anonymous White House official told The Apex Index, pushing back on rumors that followed public encouragement from Trump allies. The official said no offer, interview or vetting process had taken place.
The response came after The Apex Index asked about speculation first reported by TMZ. Minaj's appearance alongside President Donald Trump and a social media post from White House communications director Steven Cheung had raised questions about whether the rapper might take the job. Our source said:
"Nicki Minaj is not being considered for the position of White House press secretary. There has been no formal offer, and no discussion within the administration about appointing her to that role."
How the press secretary rumors started
Cheung had posted a video of Minaj aboard Air Force One on Sunday, alongside a caption that read: "Ladies and gentlemen, I think we may have found the new White House Press Secretary!" He tagged Minaj's account.
The official White House account replied with an eyes emoji. Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz also encouraged the idea, asking Minaj's fans, known as the Barbz, what they thought, according to TMZ. The outlet described the suggestions as informal and explicitly said it was unclear whether she was seriously being considered.
Minaj shared her own video from the presidential aircraft under the hashtag #AirForceOneBARBIE. She later joined Trump at a Republican campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan. Billboard reported that she praised the president and urged support for Republican candidates.
Those public appearances explain why the question caught on. They also put the suggestion in an election campaign setting, rather than an announced White House hiring process.
The official says there was no authorized trial run
The official acknowledged that a senior administration figure's public suggestion would naturally attract questions, while describing the exchange as lighthearted.
"Not everything you see posted by someone working in this building should be interpreted as an announcement from the president."
Asked whether the posts were a coordinated publicity exercise, the official said there had been "no authorized effort to test her candidacy through social media." That addresses whether the administration approved a trial run; it does not explain what each person who joined the exchange intended.
The response also rejected the idea that Minaj had been privately preparing to face reporters. In a joke about her fans, the official said:
"And since I'm sure somebody is preparing to ask, no, we haven't secretly brought Nicki in to rehearse press briefings, and there's no plan to have the Barbz take over the briefing room."
The official defended Minaj's right to support Trump and attend public events, saying her relationship with the administration should not automatically be treated as an interest in government employment.
What the denial leaves open
The official stopped short of ruling out every private conversation between Trump and Minaj. Asked whether the president had personally discussed the possibility with her, the official said they could not speak for all of his private conversations. The denial concerns the administration's appointment process, not a claim to know everything the two have ever discussed.
The official also would not confirm that Trump had personally told Minaj she would never serve in his administration. No such conversation was offered as evidence for the denial.
On the job itself, the official said the next press secretary would be expected to explain administration policies, answer difficult questions and maintain a working relationship with the White House press corps.
"When the president makes a decision, we will announce it."