Nicki Minaj Defends White People & Accuses Abdul El-Sayed Of Jealousy

Nicki Minaj accused Abdul El-Sayed of turning childhood hurt against white people as Michigan voters prepared to choose their next U.S. senator.

Nicki Minaj posted her criticism on X on October 31 after Drew Pavlou circulated a clip from El-Sayed’s appearance on Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know. Pavlou framed the exchange as a complaint about white children having advantages.

El-Sayed was discussing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his own parents, rather than using Pavlou’s phrase about white children.

In the episode released October 28, El-Sayed imagined Hegseth as a high school benchwarmer whose parents cheered him on.

He contrasted that picture with his own account of being a starter whose parents never attended his games.

El-Sayed also described growing up as a brown child with a persistent feeling that he had not done enough. He connected that pressure to learning not to take himself too seriously.

Nicki Minaj interpreted the story differently.

“If you listen carefully it’s a misplaced anger at his own parents for not making him feel worthy that turned into raging jealousy of other children who had parents that lifted them up and poured into them. He’s projected all of that onto white people. He needs to mend his heart before thinking about running for any office. White ppl haven’t hurt him. He knows exactly who did,” she wrote.

Hasan Minhaj moved the interview toward campaign strategy after El-Sayed discussed his upbringing, a moment Nicki Minaj singled out in her response.

“Notice how he doesn’t get the satisfaction he was craving when the interviewer simply anchors himself & doesn’t validate that experience. We should all do more of this. Don’t validate anyone’s experience for the sake of temporary bonding,” she added.

In a separate post that day, Minaj also wrote about jealousy.

“Jealousy is not to be taken lightly. Whenever you identify jealousy, know that you’ve just identified a deadly threat. The bible says jealousy is as cruel as the grave.”

The posts followed Minaj’s October 25 appearance at Donald Trump’s rally at McMorran Place Arena in Port Huron, Michigan.

She urged Republican votes and led chants for Mike Rogers, El-Sayed’s Senate opponent, and gubernatorial candidate John James.

El-Sayed, a former public health official, and Rogers, a former congressman, are running for the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

The outcome could help decide which party controls the Senate for the final two years of Trump’s term.

Michigan’s general election takes place Tuesday, November 3.