PORT HURON, United States – US President Donald Trump has drawn fresh controversy after launching a profanity-laced attack on Norway over his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, while rapper Nicki Minaj appeared alongside him at a Michigan rally and declared her support for his leadership.
The October 25 event in Port Huron was part of Trump’s campaign to help Republicans retain control of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections. It also featured attacks on Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, whom Trump portrayed as a national security threat.
Minaj, 43, arrived aboard Air Force One and joined Trump on stage, where she praised the president for restoring optimism among his supporters.
“I am so honoured to be working with this president,” she said, describing him as a symbol of resilience.
She added that Trump had changed the country’s political atmosphere and “given us a future to look forward to”.
The rapper, who has previously described herself as Trump’s “number one fan”, began her remarks by chanting, “We love Trump.”
Trump welcomed Minaj as the “queen of rap” and praised her continued loyalty, telling the audience she had supported him from the beginning. As she left the stage, he remarked that she had “never looked more beautiful”.
Trump links Norway to Nobel Peace Prize disappointment
The president’s remarks about Norway were among the most contentious moments of the rally.
Trump expressed anger over being overlooked for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, using vulgar language to describe the Scandinavian country and saying he did not want Norwegian immigrants coming to the United States because he had not received the award.
His comments followed repeated public claims that he deserved the prize for his diplomatic efforts. The 2026 award went to South African judge and former United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay.
Trump’s criticism appeared to conflate Norway with the decision to award the prize, although the Norwegian Nobel Committee operates independently of the Norwegian government.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide reiterated that distinction, saying the committee was independent and that this remained the case.
Trump did not announce a new immigration policy targeting Norwegian citizens during the rally. His remarks were instead framed as a political response to the Nobel decision.
El-Sayed faces fresh attacks over Muslim identity
Trump also intensified his attacks on El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat seeking a Michigan Senate seat.
The president called the candidate a “jihadist”, questioned his loyalty to the United States and suggested he would pose a security risk if elected.
El-Sayed, a former Detroit health official, has rejected accusations that he has links to extremist groups. If elected, he would become the first Muslim to serve in the US Senate.
The comments drew criticism from Bishara Bahbah, founder of Arab Americans for Trump, who condemned the president’s remarks as racist and unacceptable, according to the Associated Press.
The dispute highlights the political sensitivity surrounding Muslim representation and national security rhetoric as candidates campaign ahead of the midterm elections.
Minaj’s support adds celebrity power to Republican campaign
Minaj’s appearance gave the Republican rally a high-profile celebrity presence as Trump sought to energise supporters ahead of the congressional elections.
Her backing has extended beyond the Michigan event. In January, she supported Trump’s claims that Christians were being targeted in Nigeria, adding to her public alignment with the president on selected political issues.
At the rally, Trump also made a personal comment about Minaj’s appearance while discussing Ohio Senator Jon Husted’s physique, prompting him to call attention to the rapper in the audience. He later praised her again as she left the stage.
The event brought together celebrity endorsement, immigration rhetoric and attacks on political opponents as Trump sought to mobilise Republican voters.
With the November 3 midterms approaching, the rally underscored the president’s campaign strategy of using high-profile appearances and forceful political messaging to energise his base, even as his comments about Norway and El-Sayed drew renewed scrutiny.
