Why Nicki Minaj needed Trump's Gold Card. How much did she pay? First details revealed

Nicki Minaj on Wednesday shared a photo of a Trump Gold Card she received

Published on: Jan 29, 2026, 05:59:00 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Nicki Minaj is sending a message, and she’s letting her fans argue over what it means. On Thursday, the rapper posted a photo on social media showing herself holding President Donald Trump's Gold Card, an investor visa leading to a residency permit for the US under the current administration.

The rapper also announced a six-figure pledge to support fan investments through the administration’s new child savings initiative. (X)

“Welp...” she wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. Within hours, the post went viral. It came shortly after Minaj appeared at the Trump Accounts Summit, where she stood alongside the president and Shark Tank personality Kevin O’Leary. She called herself Trump's ‘number one fan’.

“The hate motivates me," she added. The rapper also announced a six-figure pledge to support fan investments through the administration’s new child savings initiative.

"I will say that I am probably the president's number one fan, and that's not going to change," Minaj said. The 43-year-old added that she would not let the billionaire president's opponents "get away with bullying him and you know, the smear campaigns. It's not going to work."

“He has a lot of force behind him, and God is protecting him. Amen.”

Why did Nicki Minaj need a Gold Card?

Minaj has time and again said that she arrived in the US as an illegal immigrant. At that time, her parents had lawful permanent residency. The rapper was born on December 8, 1982, in Saint James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Her family moved to Queens, New York, when she was 5 years old. She grew up in Jamaica, Queens, and has frequently referenced her Trinidadian roots in her music and interviews.

How much does the Trump Gold Card cost?

The Gold Card program allows foreigners to secure fast-tracked US residency, and eventually citizenship, in exchange for a $1 million payment to the federal government. Corporate sponsorships reportedly cost $2 million.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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