Thousands of Americans are reportedly calling for rapper Nicki Minaj to be deported from the United States following her recent political appearance and controversial remarks.
Nicki Minaj, born Onika Maraj, sparked outrage after making a surprise appearance at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest on December 21, where she praised President Donald Trump’s administration. The backlash intensified after comments she made at the event were widely criticised as transphobic.
Less than a week after the appearance, a petition originally launched in July resurfaced online and surged to about 30,000 signatures. Since then, additional petitions calling for her deportation have emerged, gaining even more traction during the holiday period.
One petition created on December 27 accused the Starships hitmaker of betraying her LGBTQ+ supporters, stating that she had shifted from being an ally to promoting what it described as “outdated and harmful notions.” The petition also questioned her residency status in the US, arguing that deporting her to Trinidad and Tobago would send a message about accountability for public figures.
The author of the petition, reportedly a 16-year-old named Tristan Hamilton, urged immigration authorities to review Minaj’s residency status and consider deportation in response to what was described as “harmful rhetoric.”
Within a week, the December petition amassed over 42,000 signatures, in addition to the 84,000 signatures gathered by the earlier July petition, bringing the combined total to more than 126,000.
As of the time of reporting, neither the White House nor representatives of Nicki Minaj have publicly commented on the petitions or the growing controversy.
