Trump comments on rapper Nicki Minaj's figure at Michigan rally

US President Donald Trump publicly commented on rapper Nicki Minaj's figure at a rally in the state of Michigan on Sunday, 25 October, and encouraged the crowd to acknowledge her. The event in Port Huron was held to back Mike Rogers, the Republican candidate in Michigan's US Senate race. Rogers faces Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, and the contest remains very close as both parties compete for control of Congress ahead of the midterm elections.

Remarks about Minaj

Trump said he had once seen "one hell of a beautiful ass", naming Minaj, and told her to stand up so the crowd could see. The audience cheered. He added that he hoped she was not insulted and said she had been "with us for a long time". The New York Post reported that Minaj wore head-to-toe Gucci at the event and was seen walking with Trump after leaving Air Force One, the presidential aircraft.

Link to Senator Husted

Trump brought up Minaj while returning to his earlier remarks about Jon Husted, the Republican senator from Ohio and a former college football player. Earlier in October, and again about a week ago in Kentucky, Trump described looking Husted up and down, including his rear end, hands and jawline. On Sunday he called media coverage of those comments "fake news", saying he had been assessing Husted's athletic build, and said his remark was meant in fun.

Trump also recently praised the looks of Ed Gallrein, the Republican congressional candidate from Kentucky. The White House did not immediately say why the president has been discussing other people's bodies.

Other remarks

On Saturday, former president Barack Obama joked about Trump's White House renovations at a rally for El-Sayed. Trump, for his part, said the trade war with Canada would soon be settled, claiming Canada was willing to concede anything at this point.