In a remarkable political pivot, Trinidad-born rap superstar Nicki Minaj publicly proclaimed herself as former President Donald Trump’s “number one fan” during a Washington DC appearance. The controversial endorsement occurred at the US Treasury Department’s Trump Accounts Summit, where Minaj displayed her exclusive “Trump gold card” visa—a premium immigration pathway offering residency and citizenship opportunities for wealthy applicants.
The artist, known for hits like “Super Bass,” shared details about her immigration journey, revealing she initially entered the United States as an undocumented child immigrant. This stance marks a significant departure from her previous criticisms of Trump’s hardline immigration policies, particularly the family-separation approach she condemned in 2018 Facebook posts.
Minaj enthusiastically showcased her gold card—featuring Trump’s likeness—on social media platform X, captioning the image simply “Welp.” She confirmed completing citizenship paperwork under what she described as her “wonderful, gracious, charming president’s” initiative, noting the card arrived “free of charge” despite its typical $1 million investment requirement plus $15,000 processing fee.
The endorsement event featured unusual camaraderie, with Trump joking about growing his nails to emulate Minaj’s signature style before holding hands with her on stage. Minaj asserted criticism only strengthened her support, stating she wouldn’t allow opponents to “get away with bullying him” and claiming divine protection for the billionaire politician.
This celebrity endorsement contrasts sharply with mounting criticism from other music industry figures. Bruce Springsteen released an anti-ICE protest song titled “Streets Of Minneapolis,” memorializing citizens killed in separate incidents. Artists including Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Ariana Grande have voiced opposition to ICE operations, with Eilish directly challenging fellow celebrities to speak out against agency actions.
The gold card program itself faces scrutiny for emerging alongside intensified crackdowns on illegal immigration, creating a two-tiered system that privileges wealthy applicants while restricting others.