A White House official says the so-called “Trump Gold Card” recently shown online by rapper Nicki Minaj is not a legitimate immigration document, but rather a souvenir with no legal authority — pushing back on implications the artist made in her social media posts.
Minaj, who was born in Trinidad, has lived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for nearly 20 years, despite previously suggesting she was brought to the country without legal status. In recent days, she posted images of a gold-colored card featuring President Donald Trump.
Residency? Residency? The cope is coping. 😅
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) January 29, 2026
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 pic.twitter.com/jc1vIxx6pz
The card has been promoted by the White House as a fast-track route to U.S. citizenship for people willing to contribute $1 million to the U.S. Treasury and pay a $15,000 nonrefundable processing fee. In a separate post, Minaj implied she received the card “free of charge.”
A White House official, speaking anonymously to The New York Times, rejected that suggestion, saying Minaj was only given a novelty item. According to the official, the rapper has been a legal permanent resident for about two decades and is already applying for citizenship, making any expedited immigration pathway unnecessary in her case. The official added the gold card she received “serves little value” beyond being a keepsake.
Minaj’s posts came shortly after her appearance at a White House event this week promoting children’s investment accounts created under a Trump-backed spending package. During the event, the president showered praise on the rapper, calling her “the greatest” and “the most successful female rapper in history.”
Trump also emphasized her financial backing of the initiative, saying, “Nicki makes a lot of money, and she’s generously stepping up. She’s investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in Trump accounts to support the children and really, really the children of her incredible fans.”
The artist, who became the first female rapper in 2024 to earn Diamond certification for two songs from the Recording Industry Association of America, has increasingly aligned herself with Trump and the MAGA movement. Trump described Minaj as “a big Trump supporter and a Trump fan” who has taken “a little heat on occasion” but remains “an unbelievable supporter.”
Welp… pic.twitter.com/c5v8ztVVLR
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) January 28, 2026
Standing beside Trump in a white fur-trimmed coat, Minaj told the audience she wasn’t sure what to say but declared herself the president’s “No. 1 fan.” She said her support would not waver, adding, “And the hate or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more, and it’s going to motivate all of us to support him more.”
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) January 28, 2026
“We’re not going to let them get away with bullying him and you know, the smear campaigns, it’s not going to work,” she continued. Minaj also said she believes “God is protecting” the president.
While Minaj’s political shift has sparked backlash from fans, LGBTQ advocates, and civil rights organizations, the White House has made clear that the widely discussed gold card carries no legal weight — and offers no shortcut through the U.S. immigration system.
LMAO!!! Damn she is so dumb, just like all MAGA, easily fooled. Bunch of morons. 🤦🏻♂️😂