Trump's Unusual White House Event Features Celebrity Endorsements
A White House gathering intended to promote the Trump administration's new child investment accounts descended into spectacle on Wednesday when President Donald Trump unexpectedly summoned celebrity supporters to join him on stage.
The event at Washington D.C.'s Mellon Auditorium, designed to highlight savings accounts for children born between 2025 and 2028, took a bizarre detour approximately twenty-five minutes into Trump's meandering address.
From Policy Speech to Celebrity Showcase
After acknowledging various Republican politicians and business figures in attendance, including Senators Marsha Blackburn and Ted Cruz, Trump's attention shifted to Shark Tank star and entrepreneur 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 declared before discussing O'Leary's failed bid for TikTok's U.S. operations.
The president then turned his focus to rapper Nikki Minaj, praising her as "the greatest" and "the most successful female rapper in history." He highlighted her financial contributions to the initiative, noting she had invested "hundreds of thousands of dollars" into what he termed "Trump accounts."
Celebrity Testimonials Take Centre Stage
Trump invited both Minaj and O'Leary to join him on stage, creating what he later described as "a little interlude" from his prepared remarks.
Minaj, wearing a distinctive puffy white fur-trimmed coat, declared herself Trump's "No. 1 fan" and vowed her support would remain unwavering despite criticism.
"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 Trinidadian-born musician, who has recently emerged as a vocal Trump supporter, added that "God is protecting" the president.
Business Perspective on Policy Initiative
O'Leary, who previously campaigned to lead Canada's Conservative Party, used his platform moment to thank Trump "on behalf of all the entrepreneurs in America."
"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."
The accounts in question provide $1,000 from federal funds for each child born during the specified four-year period, with the money invested and held until beneficiaries reach eighteen years of age.
Returning to the Script
Following the celebrity appearances, Trump quipped that having Minaj and O'Leary on stage was "better than getting [Treasury Secretary] Scott Bessent up," before resuming his promotion of the administration's financial initiative for children.
The unusual blending of policy promotion and celebrity endorsement underscores the distinctive character of Trump's public events, where traditional political messaging frequently intersects with entertainment and personal loyalty demonstrations.
