Donald Trump made Nicki Minaj the subject of a risqué joke while revisiting the shooting scare at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner earlier this year. The president joked that the rapper misunderstood an emergency command issued at the height of the commotion and began “twerking” instead of taking cover.
The original WHCD event was cut short after a gunman breached security, forcing guests to take cover before the event was later rescheduled under tighter protection.
Donald Trump raised more eyebrows than he drew laughs after making Nicki Minaj the punchline of a joke about the shocking shooting that disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in April.
While addressing guests at the rescheduled dinner on Friday, the president referenced the moment attendees were alerted after a gunman breached security and opened fire. He then suggested Minaj interpreted the warning a little differently.
“After hearing the gunshots, many people yelled, ‘Get down! Get down!’ Which caused Nicki Minaj to start twerking,” Trump quipped. “Can you believe it? Get down… She’s the only one that really understood what that meant.”
The April gala at the Washington Hilton descended into chaos when shots rang out, forcing guests to take cover before the suspect was apprehended.
How The White House Dinner Shooting Unfolded
Trump’s joke referenced one of the most chaotic moments in White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner history. The original April event at the Washington Hilton was abruptly halted after authorities said a gunman armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives charged through a Secret Service checkpoint before being stopped just outside the ballroom.
According to CBS News, guests ducked beneath their tables as agents rushed Trump and other senior officials to safety, while a Secret Service officer was struck by a round but escaped serious injury thanks to a ballistic vest. Investigators later alleged the suspect intended to target Trump administration officials.
The association ultimately rescheduled the dinner for July 24 at Washington’s Waldorf Astoria under far tighter security and with a much smaller guest list. PEOPLE reported that the injured officer, Victor Gonzales, returned to receive the WHCA’s President’s Award for Exceptional Service, while hotel staff members were also honored for their response during the attack.
Alleged White House Dinner Gunman Awaits Trial
The man accused of carrying out the attack remains behind bars as the case moves through federal court. Authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, who allegedly traveled from California to Washington armed with multiple weapons before forcing his way towards the event.
Allen has since been charged with attempted assassination of the president, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms offenses after investigators alleged he intended to target senior Trump administration officials.
The Guardian reported that Allen pleaded not guilty to all charges in May and remains in federal custody awaiting trial. Prosecutors have also alleged the suspect left behind writings outlining his grievances with the Trump administration before the attack. If convicted on the most serious counts, Allen could face life in prison.
Nicki Minaj Labels Herself Donald Trump’s ‘No. 1 Fan’
Minaj has made little effort to hide her admiration for Trump in recent months, becoming one of his most outspoken celebrity supporters.
During a White House event in January promoting the administration’s “Trump Accounts” initiative, the rapper declared herself “probably the President’s number-one fan” and insisted criticism had only strengthened her support. “The hate… does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more,” she said, according to an official White House transcript.
Since then, Minaj has repeatedly appeared at the administration’s events and publicly championed Trump’s agenda while celebrating her growing White House ties on social media. The singer privately supported Trump before eventually taking her backing public, despite concerns that an endorsement could hurt her brand.
Donald Trump Called Nicki Minaj ‘So Respected And So Hot’
Trump has been just as vocal in returning the admiration. During a White House luncheon earlier this month, the president described Minaj as “so respected and so hot” before calling her “a fantastic person” with “real talent,” according to ABC Audio.
He also referred to the rapper as “a great friend of common sense” before inviting her into the Oval Office following the event. Minaj appeared to enjoy the attention, later posting snaps from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue alongside the caption “#WhiteHouseBarbie.”