Nicki Minaj has long been a polarizing figure, but her recent political appearances have intensified the criticism surrounding her. Her latest public show of political support drew fresh backlash after she posed outside a New Hampshire polling station during the midterm elections, even as questions remain about whether she was legally eligible to vote.
Nicki Minaj appears outside a New Hampshire polling station
Minaj made an unexpected appearance on Nov. 3 outside a polling station in Derry, New Hampshire. The visit was reportedly arranged in advance. A 27-year-old voter told The Boston Globe that she and other local residents received a text message the previous day inviting them to visit the polls for an opportunity to see the rapper.
The Globe reported that the meet-and-greet was part of a broader celebrity-driven effort to increase turnout and encourage support for Republican candidates on the ballot. Former New England Patriots players Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola, boxers Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather, and former Boston Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis were also seen at polling locations across the state. Several of the celebrities had campaigned alongside President Donald Trump in the weeks leading up to Election Day. Minaj appeared with Trump at a Michigan rally in late October, while Amendola was expected to join the president at campaign events in Texas that same week. Minaj has also maintained ties to the conservative organization Turning Point USA.
Is Nicki Minaj eligible to vote?
Minaj’s political activity has prompted criticism on multiple fronts, but her New Hampshire appearance raised a specific question: Is the “Super Bass” singer eligible to vote? Based on her public statements, she almost certainly could not vote there. In 2024, Minaj said on TikTok that she was not a U.S. citizen. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, she moved to the United States at age 5 and grew up in Jamaica, Queens.
Since then, Minaj has appeared increasingly aligned with Trump and shared a photo of what she described as a complimentary Trump “Gold Card,” the administration’s proposed pathway to citizenship. In January, she said she was “finalizing that citizenship paperwork,” but she has not confirmed that the process was completed—something critics argue she likely would have publicized. An official said in January that Minaj was a permanent resident.
Only U.S. citizens may vote in federal elections. Even if Minaj obtained citizenship in the months that followed, there is no indication that she lived in New Hampshire or was registered to vote there. As a result, critics said her presence at the polling station served as a distraction despite her lack of an apparent reason to cast a ballot in the state. Minaj has not publicly responded to questions about her voting eligibility since appearing at the polling site.