'Just couldn't handle it': Nicki Minaj says seeing Trump being bullied pushed her to support him

WASHINGTON, DC: Nicki Minaj has revealed that witnessing years of public “bullying” against President Donald Trump made her flip her political stance and support him.

The rapper is seen speaking about her shift in perspective during an appearance on Katie Miller’s podcast. 

The clip from the podcast comes on the heels of Minaj's public appearance with Trump.

Nicki Minaj highlights smear campaigns against Trump

In an exclusive clip from Miller’s podcast, Minaj said witnessing Trump repeatedly criticized by the public triggered emotions tied to her own experiences in the entertainment industry.

"Religious freedom is something that's very important to me," the 'Anaconda' singer said when asked what issues specifically drew her into the conservative world.

"But if I'm being honest, President Trump … because when I saw how he was being treated over and over and over, I just couldn't handle it."

She added, "I felt that same, you know, a lot of that bullying in this man's campaign, and all of the lying...I felt that that had been done to me for so many years, and I was watching it in real time happen to someone else, and I didn't think he deserved it. And it made me think, 'I can't do this anymore'."

Minaj and Trump drew widespread attention after being photographed holding hands at the US Treasury Department’s Trump Accounts Summit.

Following the event, Minaj referred to herself online as Trump’s “number one fan,” fueling further conversation about her growing involvement in political spaces.

Nicki Minaj’s political calling

She explained that moments during the latest presidential campaign made her feel she could contribute meaningfully.

"So actually, the first time I said it out loud or texted it, it was during the last campaign, the presidential campaign. This last one, I saw something and I texted someone I knew right away." Minaj said.

"I also said, ‘All of this is making me want to get into politics.’ So the last thing that really did it was me seeing certain things. The campaign … the presidential campaign, and knowing that I could help because the things I was saying, it was happening."

Minaj said watching her observations come true convinced her politics could be a new path. "Like I was saying, ‘Oh, this is a bad idea,’ or, ‘This is a good idea’… and the things I was saying were coming to fruition."

"It made me think, ‘Oh, this is probably, this is easy.’ I mean, if it's this easy, then maybe I should do it," she added. 

The rapper hinted that a recent personal experience finally solidified her decision, though she declined to elaborate.

"I don't want to talk about it, but I'll say that sometimes people can push you so much that they push you all the way into your next calling, into your next blessing, into your next life," Minaj said. "And that's what happened with me."