Nicki Minaj isn't backing away from her increasingly public support for President Donald Trump — and she says she doesn't owe critics an explanation for it.

During a September 18 appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, Minaj spoke openly about her relationship with Trump and her decision to work with his administration, describing the president as someone she personally connects with and making clear that the criticism surrounding that relationship hasn't changed her position.

When host Laura Ingraham asked Minaj what she would say to people criticizing her for working with the sitting president, the rapper's response was immediate: “Absolutely nothing.”

“I don't know why I should,” Minaj added.

The exchange came after Minaj explained why her relationship with Trump has become considerably more public over the past year.

“I am honored to be able to have an opportunity to work with this administration and to work with President Trump,” Minaj said. “He has inspired many people, not just me.”

Minaj went on to describe Trump as “smart,” “fun” and “grounded,” saying she believes his personality makes him easier for her to relate to than critics might assume.

“It's easy to connect with him,” Minaj said. “It's easy to feel like he heard you, he understands you.”

Then she made her position unmistakable.

“I just love him,” Minaj said, adding that she isn't going to make excuses for feeling that way.

Minaj Says Her Concerts Aren't Political Rallies

While Minaj has become increasingly outspoken about Trump, she also drew a boundary between her political views and what fans should expect when they attend one of her concerts.

During the interview, Minaj agreed with Ingraham's suggestion that politics does not need to dominate live entertainment. She characterized her own concerts as places where people come together to enjoy themselves, create memories and appreciate life — rather than venues where she intends to lecture audiences about politics.

That distinction is notable as Minaj's political profile continues growing.

Her comments suggest that while she has no intention of hiding her personal support for Trump, she also does not intend to redesign the Nicki Minaj concert experience around that support.

For the Barbz, in other words, a future Nicki Minaj tour is still supposed to be a Nicki Minaj show — not a campaign event.

Minaj did not announce a date for that next tour during the interview. She said she plans to return to the road after giving fans her next body of work and jokingly told the Barbz to stop asking about concerts while she enjoys what she called her “businesswoman era.”

Her Relationship With Trump Has Become Increasingly Public

Minaj's latest comments aren't an isolated expression of support.

Over the past year, the rapper has become much more publicly associated with Trump and his administration, turning what was once a subject of speculation and occasional political commentary into an unmistakable alliance.

In January, Minaj appeared alongside Trump at the Trump Accounts Summit in Washington, D.C., where she described herself as his “number one fan.” She said at the time that criticism directed at her over her support was not pushing her away from the president.

Her latest Fox News appearance came in connection with another administration initiative.

Minaj served as a judge for the U.S. Small Business Administration's Million Dollar Pitch Competition, joining a panel evaluating entrepreneurs competing for a share of a $1 million prize pool. The September 18 finale featured five small-business finalists.

Minaj framed her involvement around entrepreneurship and her own experience building a career from comparatively modest beginnings.

During the Fox interview, she recalled working a series of jobs before becoming one of hip-hop's biggest stars, including customer-service and telemarketing positions and her widely discussed stint working at Red Lobster.

That background, she said, helped shape her interest in the small-business competition and entrepreneurship.

Minaj Has Faced Backlash Over Her Political Turn

The rapper's increasingly visible relationship with Trump has generated substantial debate among fans and across social media.

Minaj has long been willing to challenge expectations surrounding what entertainers — and particularly Black entertainers — are expected to say about politics. Her recent embrace of Trump has made those disagreements considerably more pronounced.

But Minaj's September 18 comments indicate that she has little interest in trying to win over people who object to her decision.

Asked directly what she wanted to tell her critics, she did not launch into an extended political defense or attempt to convince them that they should share her views.

Her answer was simply: “Absolutely nothing.”

That response also fits with how Minaj has framed her political position more broadly. She has presented her support for Trump as her own decision rather than something she believes requires approval from her audience or the entertainment industry.

The reaction to that position has been sharply divided, with supporters praising her willingness to state her views despite criticism and opponents challenging both her support for Trump and her growing involvement with his administration.

Those competing reactions are likely to continue as long as Minaj remains publicly involved in administration initiatives.

Politics and the Barbz Remain Separate in One Important Way

The clearest new distinction from Minaj's interview may be what she said about the stage.

Minaj isn't promising to become less political in interviews or public life. Her appearance itself demonstrates the opposite: she appeared on a political cable-news program, discussed working with the Trump administration and openly expressed affection for the president.

But she does not see that as requiring her concerts to become political events.

Her position is effectively that both things can exist at once: Nicki Minaj can publicly support Trump while keeping the focus of her live performances on music and entertainment.

For fans waiting for the next tour, however, there is still another step before that question becomes relevant.

Minaj says new music comes first.

She told the Barbz she intends to return to touring after presenting them with her next body of work, although she did not reveal when that project will arrive.

Until then, Minaj appears focused on business ventures and increasingly high-profile public appearances outside music.

And when it comes to one of the most controversial of those relationships, she isn't leaving much room for interpretation.

Nicki Minaj says she loves Donald Trump, doesn't plan to apologize for it — and has “absolutely nothing” to say to critics who believe she shouldn't be working with him.