By Keerthi Ramesh
Rap star Nicki Minaj on Wednesday pledged significant financial support to a new federal savings program and offered vocal backing for President Donald Trump, drawing both praise and sharp criticism as she joined him at a high-profile summit in the nation’s capital.
Minaj, a Grammy-nominated artist and one of the most influential voices in hip-hop, announced she would contribute between $150,000 and $300,000 to help fund “Trump Accounts” for members of her fan base, often called the “Barbz,” at an event highlighting the initiative’s role. The gathering at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other Trump allies promoting the program.
Trump Accounts, known as Section 530A under the One Big Bill Act, are a new type of tax-advantaged investment account designed to give U.S. children a head start on building savings and financial literacy. Babies born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, will receive a one-time $1,000 seed deposit from the U.S. Treasury into an account invested in broad market index funds, with parents, employers and others able to contribute up to $5,000 annually. Funds generally cannot be accessed until the child turns 18, and the account converts to an individual retirement account at that point.
Read: Trump urges Americans to open ‘Trump accounts’ ahead of tax season (January 28, 2026)
Advocates say Trump Accounts could encourage early financial planning and help narrow wealth gaps over time, though experts note that long-term contributions and market performance will determine actual outcomes. Several major financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, have announced matching contributions for eligible employees’ children.
Minaj said she supports the policy because of its potential to influence young people’s financial futures. “Early financial literacy and financial support for our children will give them a major head start in life,” she wrote in a Jan. 24 post on X, calling the initiative “the true meaning of paying it forward.”
At the summit, Minaj went further, publicly aligning with Trump and declaring herself “probably the president’s No. 1 fan,” a characterization that underscored her enthusiastic endorsement of his leadership and his policies even as she acknowledged criticism. She said backlash over her political stance does not deter her support and that it actually motivates her, framing her participation as a stand against what she described as efforts to “bully” the president.
Read: Ray Dalio backs ‘Trump account for kids’ along with Michael Dell (December 18, 2025)
Minaj’s support toward Trump has generated different reactions among her fan base and the broader public. On social media, some fans have praised her for drawing attention to financial empowerment, while others have accused her of opportunism, including unfounded speculation that her support is aimed at securing political favors, such as pardons for her husband and brother.
Critics have also expressed frustration that her embrace of a deeply polarizing political figure feels at odds with their expectations of her as an artist.
The debate highlights how Minaj’s foray into public policy and partisan politics has blurred boundaries between celebrity influence and civic engagement at a moment when the nation is deeply divided over economic and social priorities.