A Change.org petition with over 12,000 signatures calls for the deportation of rapper Nicki Minaj to Trinidad and Tobago after her appearance at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference in Phoenix on December 21, 2025. Created by Tristan Hamilton, the effort targets federal agencies like ICE, the FBI, and the White House, pointing to her political statements and MAGA alignment as grounds for action.
The AmericaFest Appearance
Minaj took the stage alongside Erika Kirk, widow of assassinated Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, for a discussion on conservative values. She hailed President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance as role models, criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, and declared, “Boys, be boys. It’s okay. Be boys. There’s nothing wrong with being a boy.” The comment drew swift condemnation from LGBTQ+ advocates, who viewed it as transphobic rhetoric opposing transgender rights.
Minaj honored an organization whose founder, Charlie Kirk, had criticized her in April 2024 as unfit for young Black girls. Kirk, 31, was killed on September 10, 2025, during a Utah Valley University debate; suspect Tyler Robinson, 22, faces aggravated murder charges.
During the event, Minaj referred to Vance as “the assassin JD Vance” in conversation with Erika Kirk, prompting an awkward moment. Kirk responded gracefully: “I know her heart, and it doesn’t even matter. Words are just words.” She introduced Minaj as courageous for voicing conservative views amid industry pressure. Vice President Vance endorsed Minaj’s point that affirming Black girls’ beauty need not diminish others, framing it against identity politics: “In the United States of America, you don’t have to apologize for being white anymore.”
The Deportation Petition and Immigration Status
Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on December 8, 1982, Minaj is not a U.S. citizen. She has lived in the country since age five, arriving initially as an undocumented immigrant. In a September 2024 TikTok Live, she confirmed holding a green card but no citizenship, despite paying millions in taxes. She once voiced frustration over lacking “honorary citizenship,” a stance that now contrasts with her support for strict immigration policies.
Immigration specialists note the petition holds no legal weight, as Change.org campaigns cannot force federal removal proceedings. Green card holders face deportation only for crimes, fraud, or residency abandonment—none of which apply to Minaj. Her alignment with the Trump administration further diminishes any incentive for action against a prominent supporter.
Hamilton described the drive as personal: a sense of abandonment by Minaj’s value shift from a figure of hope. It stresses her platform’s responsibility and non-citizen status as review fodder. With over 5 billion signatures platform-wide, Change.org petitions rarely sway federal immigration but signal public mood. This one symbolizes cultural exile more than legal threat.
Her homeland shows divided opinions. Local outlets like CNC3 News and The Guardian covered the petition, with social media split between “we don’t want her” and defenses citing her U.S. taxes.
Widespread Backlash and Silence
Once celebrated as a queer icon for her flamboyant style and 2020 RuPaul’s Drag Race guest judge appearance, Minaj now faces rejection from that audience. Her AmericaFest words echoed conservative opposition to transgender healthcare and school policies. Anecdotal reports describe LGBTQ+ venues dropping her tracks from playlists.
Podcaster Joe Budden ended his association, deeming the event “very anti-Black” and saying, “I’m finished.” Rapper Khia unleashed a profane rant tying Minaj to Petty’s record. Commentator Marc Lamont Hill recalled early warnings of her MAGA leanings, met with backlash from her fans.
Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., countered Vance’s statement: “In my 62 years, I don’t recall white people ever having to apologize for being white in America.”
Minaj has stayed silent on the petition, hip-hop fallout, and LGBTQ+ concerns as of late December 2025. Claims of deactivating Instagram and losing 10 million followers post-event were debunked; the account went dark in October 2025, two months before the AmericaFest appearance.
Background and Context
The petition highlights Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, a Level 2 registered sex offender convicted in 1995 of attempted rape of a 16-year-old. In 2022, he served home confinement for failing to register in California; in 2023, he faced house arrest for threatening rapper Offset. It also cites a 2021 harassment lawsuit from Petty’s victim, alleging Minaj’s defense involved intimidation.
Minaj’s views have shifted markedly. A 2012 lyric endorsed Mitt Romney satirically; by 2018, she decried Trump’s family separations, drawing from her own entry as a child. In November 2025, she addressed the United Nations on Christian persecution in Nigeria, clashed with Newsom over transgender youth, and amplified White House posts.
What Happens Next
Deportation remains improbable, but Minaj confronts enduring fallout: fractured fanbases, industry isolation, or potential gains like aid for Petty or citizenship. Her next moves—doubling down, reconciling, or withdrawing—will test celebrity navigation of polarized politics, highlighting influence’s double edge in defining cultural ties.
Minaj’s pivot risks fan loss, sales dips, and tour hurdles in progressive areas, akin to Lil Wayne’s Trump nod or Kanye West’s fallout. Questions linger on whether it aids Republicans with youth voters. Her next moves will define whether celebrity political alignment can survive in an increasingly polarized cultural landscape.
Sources:
“Over 35,000 People Sign Petition Calling for Nicki Minaj’s Deportation Following Her AmericaFest Appearance.” MSN, 2024.
“Petition Calling for Nicki Minaj to be Deported Gathers Over 50,000 Signatures.” TheGrio, 28 Dec 2025.
“Thousands Sign Petition to Deport Nicki Minaj Over ‘Harmful Rhetoric.'” Newsweek, 29 Dec 2025.
“Change.org Petition Calls for Nicki Minaj Deportation.” The Guardian Trinidad and Tobago, 28 Dec 2025.
“Nicki Minaj Praises Trump, Vance at Arizona Conservative Conference.” AP News, 21 Dec 2025.
“Backlash Grows After Nicki Minaj’s Turning Point USA Appearance.” CBS News Atlanta, 28 Dec 2025.