Hip-hop fans who thought that rapper Nicki Minaj was backing Mitt Romney for president after her verse on Lil Wayne’s song “Mercy” apparently just weren’t in on the joke. Today, even President Barack Obama questioned the legitmacy of Minaj’s so-called endorsement.

“I’m not sure that is actually what happened,” Obama said an earlier interview with Orlando pop station Power 953, “ I think she had a song on there, a little rap that said that. But, she likes to play different characters. So I don’t know what’s going on there.”

“That was probably Roman who did it,” one of the radio hosts jokingly added in reference to Minaj’s nefarious alter-ego Roman Zolanski.

A delighted Minaj tweeted in response to the president: “Ha! Thank you for understanding my creative humor & sarcasm Mr. President, the smart ones always do… *sends love & support* @barackobama”

She also added: “Awesome! Now I can tell my grandchildren that the 1st black President of the United states took the time to address a Nicki Minaj question.”

On “Mercy,” the latest single  from Lil Wayne’s Dedication 4, Minaj rapped: “I’m a Republican voting for Mitt Romney, you lazy b*tches are f**king up the economy.”

An immediate and considerable backlash from within the rap community followed.

Minaj even received threatening messages via Twitter. They may not have been legitimate but some people went as far as to request that “someone kill Nicki.” Another tweet read, “If Romney wins, I hope you die @NICKIMINAJ”

On the other hand, rapper Talib Kweli defended Minaj, suggesting that the lyric was not meant to be interpreted literally.

“I doubt Nicki seriously supports Romney. Her lyrics ain’t political. She just wants y’all to talk about her & she winning cuz it’s working!” Kweli tweeted.

The president also said his daughters Sasha and Malia “don’t really listen to Nicki Minaj that much, but let’s face it they are not hipper than me.”

Follow Similoluwa Ojurongbe on Twitter and simioju.com