Nicki Minaj to judge Trump-backed business competition

Nicki Minaj will serve as a judge of the Trump administration’s upcoming business competition on 18 September.

The Starships rapper, who is a vocal supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, will serve as a judge of the Small Business Administration’s Million Dollar Pitch Competition, a live event in Washington D.C., on 18 September.

According to Fox News Digital, Minaj will be joined by entrepreneur and private equity fund manager Grant Cardone and co-founder of Airbnb and U.S. Chief Design Office Joe Gebbia on the judging panel. Former Superman Dean Cain will host the event.

The five entrepreneurs and finalists will make the case for their business during the event, and the judges will decide how to divide the $1 million (£739,000) prize pot between them. All five finalists are guaranteed a payout.

The Pound the Alarm hitmaker shared the news on X and wrote, “This is a major, MAJOR KEY. Sooooooooooo (sic) looking forward to this!!! Imagine being a part of the Trump Administration’s initiative to support small businesses. Let’s GO!!!!!!!!!!”

Entrepreneurs from across the U.S. submitted pitches earlier this year, and they were whittled down to five finalists.

“As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, the SBA is celebrating America’s legacy of free enterprise through the Million Dollar Pitch Competition – a historic live event showcasing the essential contributions of America’s small businesses,” SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler told the outlet.

The format resembles the U.S. business reality TV show Shark Tank – known in the U.K. as Dragons’ Den – as well as Trump’s former reality series The Apprentice.

Minaj emerged as an outspoken supporter of Trump this year and has joined him at several public events, including the Trump Accounts Summit and the premiere of his wife Melania’s documentary film.

During a luncheon at the White House in July, the American leader singled out the Super Bass rapper for praise.

“We also have a woman that is so respected and so hot and so great and such a great friend of, I don’t say conservative, I say of common sense,” he gushed. “She’s a fantastic person and she’s a woman that’s respected by everybody and she’s got real talent: Nicki Minaj.”