Nicki Minaj’s trip aboard Air Force One came with a mock job interview. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung questioned the rapper about President Donald Trump on Sunday, October 25, then floated her as the administration’s next press secretary in his video caption.
Cheung shared a two-minute, 13-second clip showing the pair seated across from each other at a table inside the presidential aircraft. They were traveling to Michigan, where Minaj was scheduled to join Trump at a campaign rally.
Minaj quote-posted the video with just two emojis: an American flag and a grinning face with sweat, 🇺🇸😅.
The White House replied with 👀, while Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz asked her fans, the Barbz, what they thought of the idea. The posts did not announce an appointment.
Cheung Asked About Trump’s Economy, Campaigning and Polls
Ladies and gentlemen, I think we may have found the new White House Press Secretary! @NICKIMINAJ
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) October 25, 2026
Cheung opened by asking about the direction of the U.S. economy under Trump. Minaj credited the president’s business experience, arguing that overcoming financial difficulties in his own life had prepared him to manage the country’s finances. She also praised his approach to international negotiations, saying she believed he was willing to stand firm when dealing with other governments.
The conversation then turned to Trump’s campaign schedule ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Cheung asked whether anyone worked harder than the president.
“He outworks people that are half his age,” Minaj said, according to Mediaite’s account of the footage. She argued that Trump could have spent more of his presidency relaxing but had chosen to travel and campaign for other Republican candidates.
For his final question, Cheung asked about polling figures he characterized as unreliable. Minaj invoked Hillary Clinton’s election experience and encouraged supporters not to become discouraged by polls.
Katie Zacharia’s Five-Day Tenure Had Just Ended
The press secretary position had become vacant nine days before the flight. Trump announced Katie Zacharia’s appointment on October 9, and she began work on October 12, succeeding Karoline Leavitt, who had left in August.
Zacharia held her first and only White House press briefing on October 13. She answered questions from three reporters during an appearance lasting about 14 minutes, according to the Associated Press.
Her credentials also drew scrutiny. A Pepperdine University law school graduate, Zacharia acknowledged that she had not passed the California bar examination after previously describing herself as a lawyer during media appearances.
On October 16, Reuters reported, citing two U.S. officials, that she had been fired after five days. Trump told reporters that he had encouraged her to reconsider the job because of the criticism she faced.
Jimmy Fallon Had Already Cast Minaj as the Replacement in a Spoof
Six days before Cheung posted his video, Jimmy Fallon used Minaj’s name in a fictional announcement on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The show’s October 19 episode featured a mock interview with Zacharia assembled from footage of her White House briefing.
When Fallon asked how long Zacharia had hoped to serve, the edited response was, “A very long time.” Asked how long she had actually lasted, the next clip answered, “Several days,” according to AllHipHop’s October 20 report.
Fallon then pretended to receive breaking news that Trump was naming a successor. An unrelated recording of the president saying Minaj’s name supplied the reveal.
Minaj Filmed the Cabin Before Taking the Stage in Michigan
#AirForceOneBARBIE ✈️
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) October 25, 2026
Minaj also shared her own 35-second video from inside Air Force One, moving the camera around the cabin and showing followers her surroundings. Near the end, a staff member could be heard introducing Cheung to her, according to TheWrap.
Minaj had previously participated in the Treasury Department’s Trump Accounts summit in January. On August 31, the Small Business Administration announced her as a judge for its Million Dollar Pitch Competition, alongside entrepreneur Grant Cardone and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia.
After landing in Michigan on Sunday, Minaj joined Trump at McMorran Place Arena in Port Huron. Minaj took the stage and urged voters to support Republican candidates, MLive reported. She led the crowd in chants for Mike Rogers, the party’s U.S. Senate candidate, and John James, its candidate for governor.