During the event in Phoenix, Ariz., on Sunday, Dec. 21, Minaj, 43, walked out hand in hand with Erika, 37, who attended the political gathering for the first time since her husband Charlie Kirk<\/a>‘s death.<\/p>\n Erika is now CEO of the organization, a role she took on after Charlie was shot and killed<\/a> at a Turning Point USA event being held on the campus of Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. He was 31.<\/p>\n REUTERS\/Caitlin O’Hara<\/p>\n Erika Kirk (left) and Nicki Minaj (right) at AmericaFest on Dec. 21.<\/p>\n As Erika asked Minaj what she has learned from Donald Trump<\/a>‘s administration, the rapper responded, \u201cI have the utmost respect and admiration for our president. I don\u2019t know if he even knows this, but he\u2019s given so many people hope.”<\/p>\n When Erika then questioned Minaj about her decision to support Trump, 79, the Pink Friday musician explained, \u201cI just got tired of being pushed around.”<\/p>\n “I have something inside of me that\u2019s stronger than what\u2019s out there. So when you\u2019ve had enough, you realize, ‘Wait a minute, why do I even care about these people and what they think? Who are they?’ They don\u2019t even know who they are. So I\u2019m not going to back down anymore. I\u2019m not going to back down ever again,” she continued.<\/p>\n REUTERS\/Caitlin O’Hara<\/p>\n Erika Kirk (left) and Nicki Minaj (right) at AmericaFest on Dec. 21.<\/p>\n The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!<\/a><\/p>\n Minaj also took aim at California Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/a>. The pair were involved in a feud on X, after Minaj criticized comments Newsom made about his support for transgender youth<\/a>.<\/p>\n During the Turning Point USA event, Minaj was asked about her advice for young men<\/a>, and told Erika, “Don’t be New-scum” \u2014 a play on the politician’s name.<\/p>\n She then name-checked “handsome” and “dashing” Trump as a good “role model,” as well as JD Vance<\/a>.<\/p>\n AmericaFest began on Thursday, Dec. 18, and is running through Dec. 21 at the Phoenix Convention Center.<\/p>\n This year’s conference was billed<\/a> as “a powerful celebration of faith, freedom, and the legacy of our founder, Charlie Kirk.”<\/p>\n JONATHAN ERNST\/POOL\/AFP via Getty <\/p>\n Erika Kirk speaks during a Turning Point USA event in Oxford, Miss., on Oct. 29, 2025<\/p>\n Charlie was manning his signature “Prove Me Wrong” table as part of his American Comeback Tour when he was shot and killed on Sept. 10.<\/p>\n Following a manhunt for the suspect,\u00a0Tyler Robinson<\/a>\u00a0was later taken into custody. Robinson, 22,\u00a0is facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder, in connection with Charlie’s death.<\/p>\n At the Turning Point event, one of the main attractions is a photo op inside a\u00a0recreation of the booth where Charlie was murdered<\/a>.<\/p>\n Erika was unanimously elected<\/a> CEO of Turning Point USA and chairman of the board after Charlie’s killing. He co-founded the nonprofit at 18 years old to advocate for conservative politics on high school and college campuses, and was known for his signature “Prove Me Wrong” debates.<\/p>\n In an open letter<\/a> posted to social media on Sept. 18, members of the organization’s board said Charlie had “expressed to multiple executives that this is what he wanted in the event of his death.”<\/p>\n “It was the honor of our lives to serve as board members at Charlie’s side,” they stated in the letter. “Charlie prepared all of us for a moment like this one. He worked tirelessly to ensure that Turning Point USA was built to survive even the greatest tests. And now, it is our great pride to announce Erika Kirk as the new CEO and Chair of the Board for Turning Point USA.”<\/p>\n![\"REUTERS\/Caitlin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4a45428c7dad4a9341825414b9c151b3.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"REUTERS\/Caitlin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/12bc57e02b447e7b0e0bd595c4443197.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"JONATHAN](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/abd3c6ef94e15e7fb9388f64f58a2000.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n