Reggaeton Artists Nicky Jam, Anuel AA, and J Quiles Appear at Trump Campaign Rallies
In the weeks leading up to the November 2024 U.S. election, several high-profile reggaeton artists made headlines for appearing onstage at campaign events for Donald Trump, then the Republican presidential nominee.
Nicky Jam’s Appearance at a Trump Rally
In September 2024, reggaeton singer Nicky Jam joined former President Donald Trump onstage at a campaign rally in Las Vegas, where he publicly endorsed Trump’s 2024 presidential bid. Trump introduced him to the crowd and — in a moment that quickly went viral — misgendered the artist, saying:
“Latin music superstar Nicky Jam. Do you know Nicky? She’s hot. Where’s Nicky?”
Trump appeared surprised when the male artist stepped forward, adding immediately afterward, “Oh look, come here! I’m glad he came up.”
Jam then addressed supporters, wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat and expressing support for Trump’s presidency. According to reports, he told the crowd, “We need Donald Trump as president again,” and shared that he believed Trump would be good for the economy where many Latinos and immigrants live in the United States.
Anuel AA & J Quiles Rally with Trump in Pennsylvania
Earlier that late summer, Anuel AA and Justin (J) Quiles appeared at a Trump campaign rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where the former president introduced them as “two amazing Puerto Rican musical legends” and suggested the artists could help court Latino voters.
Anuel AA spoke to the crowd in support of Trump, stating:
“…the best president the world has seen, this country has ever seen — his name is President Trump.”
He encouraged his fellow Puerto Ricans and Latinos to stay united and vote for Trump, honoring what he described as Trump’s commitment to helping Puerto Rico and Latinos in the U.S.
J Quiles also addressed the audience, saying he was honored to be there and backing Trump because he felt Trump was “the most honest president we ever had,” adding that “a lot of Latinos, we stand strong next to President Trump."
Backlash and Retraction
The appearances stirred immediate reactions. After the Las Vegas rally where Trump made the “she’s hot” comment about Nicky Jam, fans and fellow Latino artists criticized the endorsement, with some accusing Trump of disrespect and others questioning artists’ support for him.
In late October 2024, Jam publicly withdrew his endorsement of Trump following another controversial incident at a Trump rally — when a comedian on the same stage made derogatory remarks about Puerto Rico. In an Instagram video, Jam said that initial support was because he thought Trump’s policies would benefit the economy for Latinos, but that the later comments crossed a line, prompting him to renounce his support. He stated that “Puerto Rico deserves respect.”
Cultural and Political Context
These high-profile Latin music endorsements were unusual within a broader Latino community that, in many polls and cultural conversations, leaned away from Trump. The appearances by Anuel AA, J Quiles, and Jam were widely reported as part of Trump’s outreach efforts to Latino voters in swing states.
However, reactions both from within the music industry and from fans highlighted tensions around the intersection of pop culture and political endorsement — particularly given Trump’s longstanding controversial rhetoric and policies affecting Latino communities.
