Nicki Minaj has landed a new gig tied to the Trump administration: a judging seat on the Small Business Administration’s “Million Dollar Pitch Competition,” an “Apprentice”-style event set for September 18.
Five small businesses will pitch their companies on stage for a share of $1 million in growth capital. Minaj will judge alongside entrepreneur Grant Cardone and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, with actor Dean Cain hosting, according to TheGrio.
The competition is part of the SBA’s “Freedom 250” initiative, a slate of programming tied to the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary. Minaj confirmed her involvement publicly, calling the opportunity a “major, MAJOR KEY” and saying she was looking forward to supporting small business owners through the administration’s initiative, per the Washington Examiner.
Not her first appearance with Trump this year
The announcement follows a public turn in Minaj’s relationship with Trump over the past year. She met with him at the White House in January, when she was photographed alongside the president and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and has since described herself as one of Trump’s biggest supporters in entertainment.
How the Barbz are reacting
Minaj announced the gig herself, posting that it was a “major, MAJOR KEY” and that she was “sooooooooooo looking forward” to representing the administration’s small-business push.
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler followed with her own announcement, framing the panel as an “ALL-STAR lineup” and tagging Minaj alongside Cardone, Gebbia and Cain.
Fan response has been split. Reality Tea rounded up comments calling the move “embarrassing” and accusing Minaj of playing “court jester for the Republicans,” while Complex found longtime Barbz split down the middle, with some longtime stans defending the move as smart business and others saying it confirms where she’s landed politically. The story is still developing less than 24 hours after the announcement, and neither Minaj nor the SBA has responded directly to the criticism.
The Million Dollar Pitch Competition is scheduled to air as part of the SBA’s Freedom 250 programming on September 18. Further details on broadcast plans have not yet been released.
