Inside Nicki Minaj’s Trump Gold Card: Costs, controversy and her viral endorsement

Rapper Nicki Minaj has ignited a political firestorm after publicly aligning herself with US President Donald Trump and showcasing what she described as his “Gold Card” – a fast-track residency document introduced under the current administration. The Trinidadian-born superstar’s appearance beside Trump at the Accounts Summit, combined with her bold declaration that she is his “number one fan”, has dominated online debate and prompted scrutiny of her immigration history and her reported investment in the new programme. 

Minaj, 43, caused a social media frenzy when she posted a photo of herself holding the Gold Card with the caption, “Welp…”. Hours earlier, she had appeared onstage with Trump and ‘Shark Tank’ investor Kevin O’Leary, praising the president and pledging financial support to his new child savings scheme.

Minaj’s viral endorsement of Trump

During her remarks at the summit, Minaj offered an unfiltered endorsement of the president.

“I will say that I am probably the president's number one fan, and that's not going to change,” she said, standing beside Trump in a fur coat. She added that criticism only strengthened her loyalty: “The hate motivates me.”

She went on to tell the audience, “We're not going to let them get away with bullying him and you know, the smear campaigns, it's not going to work. OK? … He has force behind him and God is protecting him. Amen.”

In a later TikTok video she reposted, Minaj doubled down: “Hello, guys. I am with my favourite president. The best president of all time.” Trump responded in the clip: “And I’m with the queen of rap.”

Trump reciprocated the admiration at the event, calling Minaj “the greatest” and “the most successful female rapper in history”. He also celebrated her reported financial backing of the new “Trump accounts”, a children’s investment programme that will give eligible youngsters $1,000 at birth, with additional contributions allowed from families, employers and donors until the child turns 18.

She also shared a video of herslef meeting with auto workers in the Oval office.

Why the Gold Card matters

Minaj’s Gold Card post triggered immediate questions about her immigration status. The rapper has previously said in a Facebook post that she entered the United States without papers as a child, writing in 2018, “I came to this country as an illegal immigrant @ 5 years old.” Her parents, however, held lawful permanent residency at the time.

Born on 8 December 1982 in Saint James, Port of Spain, she moved with her family to Queens, New York, at age five and later built a career grounded in her Caribbean-American upbringing.

Her husband, Kenneth Petty, was found guilty in 1994 of attempting to rape a 16-year-old girl and spent four years in prison for the offence.

Minaj, whose net worth is now estimated to exceed $190.5 million, also expressed her backing for the programme’s financial literacy component.

The Gold Card, created by a 2025 Trump executive order, provides a pathway to US residency – similar to a green card – in exchange for a substantial financial contribution. Holders are permitted to live and work anywhere in the country and may apply for citizenship after meeting the usual residency requirements. Spouses and children may be added to applications, though each must pay the full set of fees.

After users online speculated that Minaj might be using the card to regularise her status, she wrote in a now-deleted comment: “Residency? This isn’t for Residency. I’ve had that for decades.”

How much does the Trump Gold Card cost?

The Gold Card is one of the most expensive legal residency routes ever introduced by the US government.

According to the official programme framework:

• Applicants must pay a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security.
• If approved after background checks, applicants must then make a $1 million contribution – a mandatory payment sometimes described as a “gift” – to the federal government.
• Additional medical and visa-related charges may also apply.
• Businesses can sponsor employees through a corporate Gold Card costing $2 million per worker, plus the processing fee.
• A forthcoming Platinum Card, priced at $5 million, is expected to allow holders to spend up to 270 days per year in the US without paying tax on foreign-earned income.

While Minaj displayed the Gold Card publicly, the government has not confirmed whether she completed the full payment process. During her summit speech, she said she had made a “six-figure” pledge toward fan investments through the new child savings scheme, but no details were offered on whether she funded her card or how much she may have contributed.

How to apply for the Gold Card

Applications are submitted through the programme’s official federal portal. Prospective cardholders begin by paying the $15,000 fee and undergoing security vetting. Only those who pass are invited to make the $1 million contribution. The card grants immediate lawful permanent residency upon approval.

Officials emphasise that payment does not guarantee acceptance; applications can still be rejected on legal or security grounds.