American rapper Onika Maraj-Petty, popularly known as Nicki Minaj, has confirmed she received President Donald Trump’s “gold card” hours after publicly declaring her loyalty to him.
The singer shared photos of the card on X with the caption “Welp.”
She followed up with several posts celebrating the development, writing, “Finalizing that citizenship paperwork as we speak as per MY wonderful, gracious, charming President,” and adding, “Gold Trump card free of charge.”
Welp… pic.twitter.com/c5v8ztVVLR
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) January 28, 2026
In another post, she wrote, “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.”
The development came shortly after Minaj appeared at an event promoting the president’s government-supported investment accounts for babies on Wednesday, where she was invited on stage by Trump following her endorsement of “Trump Accounts,” a government-backed scheme providing trust funds for children.
While addressing the audience, Minaj declared, “I will say that I am probably the president’s number one fan, and that’s not going to change.”
She added, “And the hate or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more.”
The 43-year-old Trinidad-born rapper also criticised Trump’s opponents, saying she would not allow them to “get away with bullying him and you know, the smear campaigns. It’s not going to work.”
She further stated, “He has a lot of force behind him, and God is protecting him. Amen.”
Trump, during the event, joked about Minaj’s appearance, saying he would grow his nails in her honour, before briefly holding her hand as another speaker mounted the podium.
Minaj’s confirmation of receiving the gold card revived conversations about her immigration background.
In a 2018 Facebook post, she had written, “I came to this country as an illegal immigrant @ 5 years old.”
However, in a since-deleted comment responding to reactions about the gold card, she clarified, “Residency? This isn’t for Residency. I’ve had that for decades.” Billboard reports that the rapper was born in Trinidad.
What the Trump Gold Card offers
The Trump gold card is part of a newly introduced visa scheme offering fast-tracked US residency to wealthy foreign applicants willing to pay at least $1m.
Announcing the programme, Trump said the card would offer a “direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people. SO EXCITING! Our Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable Talent.”
According to the scheme’s official website, applicants must demonstrate that they will provide a “substantial benefit” to the United States. The programme promises residency in “record time” and requires a $1m payment, alongside a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee before applications are reviewed.
Businesses sponsoring foreign workers are expected to pay $2m, while a “platinum” version of the card offering additional benefits is expected to cost $5m.
Trump defended the programme, saying, “The people that can pay $5m, they’re going to create jobs. It’s going to sell like crazy. It’s a bargain.”
Scheme introduced amid immigration clampdown
The introduction of the gold card comes as the administration intensifies immigration policies. Work visa fees have been increased, deportations of undocumented migrants have been stepped up, and immigration applications from some countries affected by the travel ban have been paused.
The government has also suspended decisions on asylum applications and begun reviewing thousands of cases approved under the previous administration.
In September, Trump signed an order introducing a $100,000 fee for certain H-1B visa applicants abroad, a move that initially caused concern among international students and technology firms before the White House clarified its scope.
Minaj’s political stance has drawn growing attention in recent months. Her appearance at Turning Point USA’s America Fest in December made headlines after she spoke with Erika Kirk, widow of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was killed in a September shooting in Utah.
In November, Minaj publicly praised Trump after he spoke about possible action linked to the killing of Christians in Nigeria. She later appeared alongside Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, on November 18 to discuss the issue.
