Trump Campaign Rally in Michigan Features Nicki Minaj, Greenland Claims, and Gas Price Defense

President Donald Trump delivered a nearly two-hour campaign speech Sunday afternoon in Port Huron, Michigan, touching on topics ranging from rapper Nicki Minaj to U.S. territorial agreements with Greenland and domestic gas prices.

Trump traveled to Michigan as part of a month-long rally blitz to support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers and other GOP hopefuls ahead of November’s midterm elections. Early in the address, Trump criticized Rogers’ Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, calling him a “Jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member” and demanding that El-Sayed pass through metal detectors at the U.S. Capitol if elected. El-Sayed, who is Muslim, has vehemently denied any ties to the Islamist organization.

Stepping off his prepared remarks, Trump defended comments he made the previous week regarding Republican Senator Jon Husted’s athletic background and physical appearance during an Ohio rally. Comparing that incident to other public observations, Trump directed attention toward Nicki Minaj, who traveled with him to Michigan aboard Air Force One and was seated in the audience.

Pointing to Minaj, Trump told the crowd, “That’s hard to miss! Stand up! That’s hard to miss!” Minaj stood from her seat as supporters cheered, responding with a thumbs-up gesture.

Turning to foreign policy and territorial claims, Trump asserted that the United States owns Greenland, describing a signed agreement with Denmark regarding the semi-autonomous Arctic territory. “We own Greenland — we work it with Denmark. We signed a very good agreement with great lawyers,” Trump said, adding that the arrangement covers an “infinite period of time.”

Last month, Trump announced an agreement intended to grant the U.S. permanent access to the island and authorization to construct military installations without seeking approval from Denmark. The pact still requires ratification by the Danish parliament.

During the rally, Trump addressed domestic economic pressures, acknowledging that Americans are “taking a hit” due to high gasoline prices stemming from the U.S. conflict with Iran. The national average cost for a gallon of gas reached nearly $4.30 on Sunday, according to AAA, compared to just above $3 per gallon one year prior.

Defending military action against Iran, Trump stated that the country represents a major state sponsor of terror and that measures were necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

The president also expressed indifference toward New York Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, telling supporters that she “doesn’t bug me too much.” However, he renewed verbal attacks against another member of the progressive congressional group known as “The Squad,” Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, characterizing her as a “little troublemaker” and disparaging her country of origin, Somalia.

Toward the end of the address, Trump criticized the Norwegian Nobel Committee for not selecting him for the Nobel Peace Prize, voicing frustration over this year’s announcement and disparaging Norway.