'Gold Trump Card Free Of Charge': Why Everyone's Talking About Nicki Minaj And US Citizenship

Last Updated:January 29, 2026, 10:28 IST

At the Trump Accounts summit in Washington, DC, Minaj openly praised President Trump, calling herself “probably the president’s Number 1 fan”.

Rapper Nicki Minaj and US President Donald Trump. (Image: X/NICKIMINAJ)

Rapper Nicki Minaj has sent the social media into a tizzy by posting a picture of her Trump Gold Card on X. The rapper wrote “Welp", while posting the picture on Wednesday and the post went viral in no time. This morning, she wrote another post, mentioning her citizenship paperwork was in process and even claimed she got the Gold Card “free of charge", making the social media question why she didn’t have to pay for the card that is actually worth $1 million and $2 million.

“Residency? Residency? The cope is coping. Finalizing that citizenship paperwork as we speak as per MY wonderful, gracious, charming President. Thanks to the petition. I wouldn’t have done it without you. Oh CitizenNIKA you are thee moment. Gold Trump card free of charge," she posted on X today.

From An ‘Illegal Immigrant’ To Gold Card US Citizen

Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Minaj had moved to the United States at the age of five, a period she has previously described as entering the country without legal status. Growing up in New York, she has often spoken about the instability and uncertainty of her early years, experiences that shaped both her ambition and her public persona. Over time, her family regularised their status, and Minaj eventually became a lawful permanent resident, building her life and career in the US while remaining deeply conscious of her immigrant roots.

Despite becoming one of the most commercially successful rappers in the world and paying millions of dollars in US taxes, Minaj revealed in 2024 that she never pursued American citizenship. That changed with the introduction of the Trump “Gold Card" programme, a premium immigration pathway designed to fast-track permanent residents towards citizenship. Hours after appearing at the White House alongside President Donald Trump, Minaj posted an image of her $1 million Gold Card on social media with a terse “Welp…", instantly sparking debate. The card symbolises not just accelerated legal status, but also access and proximity to political power rarely seen for figures from undocumented immigrant backgrounds.

At the White House event, Minaj openly embraced her political alignment, calling herself “probably the president’s number one fan" and pledging up to $300,000 to fund Trump Accounts for the children of her fans. The moment marked a striking full circle: from an undocumented child immigrant to a global celebrity publicly endorsed by the US president, now holding a Gold Card that fast-tracks citizenship. For supporters, it is a classic American success story; for critics, it raises questions about privilege and access in immigration policy. Either way, Minaj’s journey underscores how fame, wealth and politics can converge to rewrite the boundaries of belonging in modern America.

The Trump-Minaj Bonhomie

Apart from the Gold Card, what’s grabbing eyeballs is the Trump-Minaj bonhomie at the Trump Accounts event. In a TikTok video going viral, Nicki Minaj calls Trump the “best president of all time" while he calls her the “Queen of Rap."

At the Trump Accounts summit in Washington, DC, Minaj openly praised President Trump, calling herself “probably the president’s Number 1 fan" and declaring her unwavering support despite backlash from critics. She said the criticism doesn’t affect her and even motivates her to support him more, condemning what she described as “bullying" and “smear campaigns" against him.

On social media and in interviews around the event, she also thanked Trump for opportunities that align with her and highlighted his leadership in ways she found meaningful, even using affectionate language when referring to him.

Trump responded warmly to Minaj’s praise, telling her “I just think she’s great" and noting her achievements in music. He referred to her as a prominent and successful artist, even acknowledging that she hasn’t always been aligned with his political base.

In a light-hearted moment, he joked about growing his nails to match hers and complimented her signature style.

What Is The Trump Gold Card?

The Trump Gold Card is a newly introduced US immigration programme that offers a fast-track route to lawful permanent residency — and eventually citizenship — for foreign nationals who can make a very large financial contribution to the United States government, effectively functioning like an enhanced version of a green card.

To participate, applicants must first pay a non-refundable processing fee (about $15,000 to cover vetting by the Department of Homeland Security) and then make a required $1 million contribution to the US Treasury once their background checks are complete. This premium pathway is designed to attract wealthy individuals by accelerating the traditional immigration process in exchange for the sizable financial gift, with similar options available for corporate sponsors at higher levels, reportedly costing $2 million.

News world 'Gold Trump Card Free Of Charge': Why Everyone's Talking About Nicki Minaj And US Citizenship

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