Charlamagne Tha God Questions Nicki Minaj Over Hochul

Charlamagne Tha God questioned Nicki Minaj’s judgment of Kathy Hochul on “The Breakfast Club” Thursday (October 29), arguing that her support for Donald Trump did not fit the moral test she set for the governor.

“That’s selective outrage, if you ask me,” he said, according to Mediaite.

He said Minaj was free to choose her politics. His issue was her threat of divine punishment for Hochul while backing Trump. The host asked whether she judged both politicians by the same rules. Minaj had appeared with Trump at political events and spoken at a rally.

The exchange followed Minaj’s October 28 criticism of Hochul, which included an appeal to Black and Christian voters to choose Republican Bruce Blakeman. She called the governor an “evil woman” and argued that she should lose her seat.

Part of that attack drew on a much older controversy. At the Milken Institute Global Conference in California on May 6, 2024, Hochul suggested that some Black children in the Bronx were unfamiliar with computers. She was discussing the state’s Empire AI Consortium and the jobs she hoped it would help create.

Hochul apologized that same day. She said she had misspoken and explained that the barrier was access to technology, rather than children being unaware of computers. The remark had already drawn criticism from 50 Cent in 2024. He pointed to Bronx children’s familiarity with iPads when he challenged the governor’s description.

In the current dispute, Hochul tied Minaj’s criticism to the rapper’s appearances at Trump rallies and urged her to stop attending them.

Charlamagne had faced Trump’s own anger over his political commentary before. In August 2025, Trump attacked him on Truth Social after the host appeared on Lara Trump’s Fox News show and criticized his presidency. During that interview, Charlamagne said people were struggling under Trump and indicated he would favor Kamala Harris when asked about his voting choice.

New Yorkers were already voting as the dispute played out. The state Board of Elections lists early voting through November 1, with hours set locally. Election Day is November 3, when polls will open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.