Trump's 'Gold Card' visa offers residency for a $1M investment. Learn why Nicki Minaj's viral post about it sparked a major immigration policy debate.
Trump's 'Gold Card' Visa Sparks Debate After Nicki Minaj Post (Image: File)
A premium U.S. visa program designed for wealthy foreign investors has ignited a public debate after rapper Nicki Minaj posted about receiving what she called Donald Trump's "Gold Card." The viral moment has placed the artist at the center of a political and immigration policy discussion.
Rapper Nicki Minaj shared an image of Donald Trump's 'Gold Card,' a new investor visa program, triggering a debate on U.S. immigration policy. The post came after she attended a January 2026 event with the president, where she publicly praised him. Minaj shared the image on social media platform X on January 28, 2026, following an event with the president, stating she was using the program to finalize her citizenship. The post has drawn widespread attention to a controversial pathway to U.S. residency that prioritizes financial contribution.
The Gold Card is an investor visa scheme launched via an executive order on September 19, 2025. The program allows high-net-worth foreign nationals to apply for expedited U.S. residency in exchange for a $1 million contribution to the U.S. Treasury and a $15,000 processing fee. A premium 'Platinum Card' tier, reportedly priced at $5 million, offers benefits including an extended tax-free presence. Administration figures state the program generated over $1.3 billion in its initial phase after applications opened in December 2025.
Nicki Minaj posted a photograph of the card on social media platform X on January 28, 2026, after attending a Treasury-linked event with Trump. She later stated she was "finalising citizenship paperwork" under the program and claimed the card was obtained "free of charge," raising questions about eligibility. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Minaj holds U.S. permanent residency but is not a citizen, a fact she acknowledged publicly in 2024.
The program has drawn sharp criticism for commercializing residency while the administration tightens asylum rules and increases deportations. Supporters within the Trump administration argue it strengthens national finances without taxpayer burden. Minaj’s open support and claim of being Trump’s “number one fan” have brought focus to tensions between elite access via investment and ordinary migrant experiences.
Minaj framed the moment as both personal and symbolic, stating that public criticism only fuels her motivation. The public's impression of immigration justice and how a policy for investors interacts with celebrity politics has come under increased scrutiny due to her recent public enthusiasm for Trump, which included praise at the January event and noticeable on-stage contacts.
A: It is an investor visa program offering expedited U.S. residency to foreign nationals who contribute $1 million to the U.S. Treasury, plus a processing fee.
A: She posted an image of the card after attending an event with Donald Trump, later suggesting she was using the program to finalize her U.S. citizenship paperwork.
A: No. She is a permanent resident (green card holder) who was born in Trinidad and Tobago.
A: Programme was launched by executive order on September 19, 2025, and applications opened in December 2025.
