Nicki Minaj Echoes Unsubstantiated Republican Talking Points About Election Polls, Touts 'booming' economy

(TSN): Rapper Nicki Minaj traveled to Michigan aboard Air Force One to campaign for Republican candidates and participated in an interview with White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, one of President Donald Trump's top messaging strategists. During the exchange, Minaj repeated several arguments frequently advanced by Trump administration officials regarding the economy and election polling.

Asked why she believes the economy is "booming" under Trump, Minaj pointed to the president's business history, arguing that he had overcome severe financial setbacks and therefore "surely" knows how to manage the nation's finances. She stated that Trump had "worked his way out of not having a dollar left in the bank," a claim that appears to reference the financial difficulties he experienced during the real estate downturn of the early 1990s.

While Trump has frequently discussed the debt and financial challenges faced by his companies during that period, reporting has documented that he remained connected to substantial family wealth and financial resources. Available reporting shows his businesses endured significant losses and bankruptcies, but this publication was unable to verify claims that Trump literally reached a point where he had only one dollar remaining in his bank account.

Cheung also asked Minaj about what he characterized as "fake news polls," reflecting a broader Republican argument that public polling is undercounting GOP voters. Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have argued that many Trump supporters are not responding to surveys. However, some of the most recent polling, including polling conducted by conservative-leaning outlets, continues to show a challenging environment for Republicans. According to a Fox News/Beacon Research survey released October 12, Democrats led Republicans 54% to 45% on the generic congressional ballot.

Separately, Fox News Power Rankings released October 13 projected Democrats as favored to regain control of the House of Representatives, giving Democrats an advantage in at least 219 seats and estimating they could win as many as 237 seats in a strong election-night scenario. The network characterized the Senate battle as competitive and still "in play."

Minaj's comments about the economy also contrast with surveys showing many Americans remain dissatisfied with their personal financial circumstances. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that only 24% of Americans rated the economy as "excellent" or "good," while most described conditions as either fair or poor. The same survey found that six in ten Americans said Trump's economic policies had made the economy worse.

Likewise, a national CNBC survey found voters remained pessimistic about the economy despite broader economic growth, while worker surveys continue to show concerns about housing, food, energy and other everyday expenses. Many respondents said rising costs, including costs they associate with tariff policies, outweigh positive macroeconomic indicators often cited by the administration.