Trump's Unorthodox Pitch for Child Savings Accounts Features Celebrity Endorsements
A White House promotional event for the Trump administration's new child investment accounts descended into surreal territory on Wednesday when President Donald Trump unexpectedly summoned celebrity supporters to join him on stage. The occasion, held at Washington D.C.'s Mellon Auditorium, was intended to highlight the savings initiative established under a recent partisan spending package, but quickly evolved into a showcase for Trump's high-profile backers.
A Meandering Speech Takes a Celebrity Turn
Approximately twenty-five minutes into a wide-ranging address, President Trump began acknowledging notable figures in the audience. After thanking Republican officeholders including Senators Marsha Blackburn and Ted Cruz, along with Airbnb founder turned U.S. chief design officer Joe Gebbia, Trump's attention shifted to Canadian entrepreneur and Shark Tank personality Kevin O'Leary.
"I like Kevin O'Leary. Where's Kevin? Over there. Kevin is so nice. He's with me 90% of the time, but when he's with me, he's really with me great," Trump remarked, before referencing O'Leary's unsuccessful bid to purchase TikTok's U.S. operations. "You're an entertainer, businessman ... so I know what you do, having done The Apprentice, I see you on television, you have what it takes, right?"
Following a shout-out to Curb Your Enthusiasm actress Cheryl Hines, wife of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump turned his focus toward rapper Nicki Minaj, who has emerged as one of his most vocal supporters in recent months.
Nicki Minaj's Vocal Support and Financial Commitment
Trump lavished praise on Minaj, describing her as "the greatest" and "the most successful female rapper in history." He highlighted her reported financial investment in the so-called "Trump accounts," which will provide $1,000 from federal funds to every child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028. These funds will be invested and held until the beneficiaries reach eighteen years of age.
"Nicki makes a lot of money, and she's generously stepping up. She's investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in Trump accounts to support the children and really, really the children of her incredible fans," Trump declared.
The Trinidadian-born musician, who has acknowledged entering the United States illegally but now reportedly holds a green card, has become a frequent presence around the Trump administration since publicly declaring her support for the president. Trump noted that Minaj has faced criticism from some fans for her political stance but has remained "an unbelievable supporter" nonetheless.
On-Stage Declarations of Loyalty
Trump then invited both Minaj and O'Leary to join him on stage, describing Minaj as having "been with us all the way." Wearing a distinctive puffy white fur-trimmed coat, Minaj professed herself to be Trump's "No. 1 fan" and vowed that her support was unwavering.
"And the hate or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more, and it's going to motivate all of us to support him more," she asserted. "We're not going to let them get away with bullying him and you know, the smear campaigns, it's not going to work. OK?" The rapper added her belief that "God is protecting" Trump.
Kevin O'Leary's Policy-Focused Endorsement
O'Leary, who unsuccessfully campaigned to lead Canada's Conservative Party in 2017, offered a more policy-oriented endorsement. "I wanted to thank you on behalf of all the entrepreneurs in America because we create 72 percent of the jobs ... and all we care about is policy," he stated. "We love policy. Pro business policy. And these accounts are fantastic for independence and support."
Following their remarks, Trump characterized the celebrity appearances as "a little interlude" and quipped that having Minaj and O'Leary on stage was "better than getting [Treasury Secretary] Scott Bessent up." The unusual episode underscored the Trump administration's continued blending of political promotion with celebrity culture, even when discussing substantive policy initiatives like child investment accounts.
