Topline
Rapper Nicki Minaj posted a photo of President Donald Trump’s “Gold Card” on Wednesday, suggesting she may have purchased the card that provides fast-tracked U.S. citizenship, after she appeared alongside the president earlier in the day to promote his “Trump accounts.”
Key Facts
Minaj captioned the photo, “Welp…” showing the physical Trump “Gold Card,” which requires a $1 million contribution to the U.S. Treasury and a $15,000 non-refundable processing fee.
Minaj is a legal permanent resident in the U.S. and moved to the country as a child from Trinidad and Tobago, though she said in 2024 she was not a U.S. citizen despite paying millions of dollars in taxes.
The rapper said she was “probably the president’s number one fan” during a summit for “Trump Accounts,” a program that seeks to provide “tax-advantaged investment accounts for U.S. citizens under the age of 18,” according to its website.
Minaj has received backlash for her recent alignment with the Trump administration and said Wednesday the “hate, or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all.”
Trump said Minaj is investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into the “Trump Accounts” program.
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How Does The Trump “gold Card” Work?
Potential cardholders have to submit an application for the $1 million card and have a background check run on them by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Applicants are also required to attend a visa interview and submit any additional documents needed by the government. In addition to the $1 million gift to the Treasury, individuals may also pay “small, additional fees to the U.S. Department of State” depending on their circumstances, according to the “Gold Card” website. A Trump “Platinum Card” will also be available at a later date for applicants, who have to shell out a $5 million contribution to be able to spend up to 270 days in the U.S. without being subject to taxes on non-U.S. income. Once granted, a card holder “receives lawful permanent resident status as an EB-1 or EB-2 visa holder,” according to the trumpcard.gov website.
Key Background
A portion of Minaj’s fanbase has expressed frustration with the rapper after she spoke at a Turning Point USA event in December alongside CEO Erika Kirk. Minaj spoke about her Christian faith during the appearance and received backlash when she said, “Boys, be boys… It’s okay be boys… There’s nothing wrong with being a boy,” which critics characterized as anti-trans rhetoric. Minaj was considered an ally of the LGBTQ+ community for the majority of her career and was also a vocal critic of Trump’s immigration policies during his first term. The rapper called out the separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2018, saying, “This is so scary to me” before recalling her time living in the country illegally as a child.
Further Reading
Trump ‘Gold Card’ Program Opens Applications For Million-Dollar Visas (Forbes)
False Viral Claims About Nicki Minaj—Like A Dis From Rihanna—Spread After Turning Point Event (Forbes)
