Nicki Minaj is using her star power to rally support for President Donald Trump. Whether she can cast a ballot herself is less clear.
The rapper, 43, joined Trump at an October 25 rally in Port Huron, Michigan, where she led the crowd in chants supporting the president and he complimented her backside. But Minaj’s political advocacy does not establish her eligibility to vote. The rapper previously said she was not a US citizen, then announced she was working toward citizenship.
Can She Vote?
Noncitizens, including lawful permanent residents, cannot vote in federal elections, according to USA.gov. If Minaj has not become a US citizen, she cannot cast a ballot in this year’s congressional races.
Minaj was born in Trinidad and Tobago and moved to the United States as a child. During a 2024 livestream, she said she was not a US citizen, Newsweek reported. In January, she offered an update, writing on X that she was “finalizing that citizenship paperwork as we speak, as per MY wonderful, gracious, charming President.”
She has not publicly confirmed completing the process. It remains unclear whether she has since become a citizen. Submitting paperwork alone does not make someone a citizen. US Citizenship and Immigration Services explains that naturalization applicants must complete the process, including taking the Oath of Allegiance.
The Rally
Minaj, wearing a gold Gucci-branded suit, opened her remarks by leading the crowd in a chant of “We love Trump.” She told the crowd in Michigan to “be a leader in this movement” and called the moment a “major turning point for our country.”
She also spoke against gender-affirming care for transgender children. “We want people to leave the children alone, leave them out of it,” she said. She ended by addressing Trump directly: “President Trump, it is an honor to stand with you every single time, and I will continue to support you forever and ever. If you run again, I will support you again.”
Urging Fans to Vote
Despite her own uncertain status, Minaj has encouraged her followers, known as the Barbz, to participate in the midterm elections. In an October 6 post, she reminded fans about approaching voter registration deadlines ahead of the November 3 election.
“I encourage you to exercise your right to VOTE. Your voice is needed now more than ever,” she wrote. “I believe in you.”
The Bottom Line
Nicki Minaj campaigned for Donald Trump in Michigan and urged her fans to vote, but it remains unclear whether she is a US citizen and therefore eligible to vote herself. She said in 2024 that she was not a citizen and later announced she was finalizing her paperwork, but has not publicly confirmed completing the naturalization process. Non-citizens cannot vote in federal elections.
My Opinion
Nicki Minaj said in 2024 that she was not a US citizen. In January, she said she was finalizing her paperwork. She has not confirmed whether the process is complete. In the meantime, she is campaigning for Trump, urging her fans to the polls, and calling the rally a “turning point for our country.” That’s not illegal. Anyone can advocate for a candidate. But it is awkward.
The deeper issue is not Minaj’s citizenship. It is the message. Trump has spent years questioning the legitimacy of American elections, demanding proof of citizenship from voters, and warning of widespread fraud. Yet here he is, standing beside a woman who may not be eligible to vote, celebrating her support and urging her fans to the polls. The hypocrisy is not subtle.
Minaj is entitled to her political opinions and to campaign for whomever she chooses. But if the president is going to make voter eligibility a centerpiece of his political movement, he might want to check whether his celebrity endorser is actually on the voter rolls.
