Nicki Minaj has signed on to judge the Trump administration’s upcoming small business reality competition.
The 43-year-old rapper, who previously served on the American Idol panel, will evaluate entrepreneurs alongside private equity fund manager Grant Cardone and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, currently the U.S. Chief Design Officer. Actor Dean Cain, 58, best known for playing Superman in the 1990s series Lois & Clark, will host The Million Dollar Pitch Competition on Friday, September 18, in Washington, D.C.
“This is a major, MAJOR KEY,” Minaj wrote on X. “Sooooooooooo looking forward to this!!! Imagine being a part of the Trump Administration’s initiative to support small businesses. Let’s GO!!!!!!!!!!”
The Shark Tank-meets-The Apprentice format will feature five small business finalists from across the country pitching their models to potential investors for a share of a $1 million cash pool. The event is organized by the United States Small Business Administration and marks the latest reality-style production from Trump’s second administration, following the Department of Transportation’s recently released series The Great American Road Trip.
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler praised the finalists in an official statement, saying, “The five finalists represent the best of American ingenuity, know-how and grit while representing the vital contributions of small businesses in local communities across America’s industrial base.”
She continued, “As we mark 250 years of free enterprise, these small businesses will remind our nation why our builders and entrepreneurs will always be among America’s greatest assets.”
Minaj’s participation follows a pattern of public alignment with the president. Earlier this summer, Trump singled her out for praise during a White House luncheon, describing her as “a woman that is so respected and so hot and so great” and calling her a close friend of “common sense.” The Grammy-nominated artist has continued posting messages supportive of his policy decisions.
Before his political career, Trump hosted 15 seasons of NBC’s The Apprentice and The Celebrity Apprentice, making the competition format a familiar territory for the administration. The Million Dollar Pitch Competition represents a direct return to that televised showcase structure, this time with federal agency backing and a celebrity panel drawn from entertainment and business worlds.
Gebbia’s presence connects the event to Silicon Valley success stories, while Cardone brings investment-world credentials. The combination of Minaj’s pop culture stature and Cain’s television hosting experience suggests the production aims for broad audience appeal beyond typical policy announcements.
The September 18 event in the nation’s capital will put the finalists before this panel and potential investors, with the $1 million pool serving as both prize money and promotional hook for the administration’s small business messaging.