Overview
- Minaj posted a birthday message on X on Sunday, June 28, 2026, writing “Thank you for saving free speech, Elon” and sharing a smiling selfie of the two together.
- Several outlets reported that the selfie appears likely to be AI-generated, raising questions about how celebrity images are being used to signal alliances.
- The post is the latest visible sign of a rapport that has built since late 2025, including Minaj’s May visit to SpaceX’s Starbase and on-air praise during a Starship livestream.
- Minaj’s public alignment with Musk follows a wider political realignment in 2025–2026 that has included appearances with conservative organizations and high-profile praise for President Trump.
- The exchange revives debate over Musk’s ownership of X, which he rebranded after buying Twitter in 2022 and whose moderation shifts have been linked by researchers to rises in hateful content, and it has provoked mixed reactions from fans and industry peers.