Nicki Minaj joins Trump admin’s new ‘Shark Tank’ like show — and she’s VERY excited

BS BULLETIN:

The Trump administration is bringing some serious reality-TV energy to Washington with a $1 million Small Business Administration pitch competition featuring Nicki Minaj as a celebrity judge.
Minaj will judge alongside real estate investor Grant Cardone and Airbnb co-founder and U.S. Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia, while former Superman Dean Cain gets the hosting duties.
Minaj is already hyping the September 18 event, declaring on X: “This is a major, MAJOR KEY” and celebrating being part of a Trump administration initiative supporting small businesses.

Only Donald Trump’s Washington could somehow put Nicki Minaj, Superman, an Airbnb billionaire and five small businesses in the same room and call it government work.

And, frankly, this could be fun.

The Small Business Administration announced Monday that Minaj will serve as one of three celebrity judges for its Million Dollar Pitch Competition, a live showdown in Washington on September 18 that will have five entrepreneurs pitching their companies for a share of $1 million.

Joining Minaj at the judges’ table will be entrepreneur and real estate investor Grant Cardone and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, who also serves as Trump’s U.S. Chief Design Officer.

And hosting the whole thing?

Dean Cain. Yes, Superman.

The setup has obvious shades of “Shark Tank,” with a little “Apprentice” DNA thrown in for good measure.

But the latest development came from Minaj herself, who apparently isn’t treating this as just another celebrity appearance.

She lit up X early Tuesday after Fox News promoted the event. “This is a major, MAJOR KEY,” Minaj wrote, adding that she was “Sooooooooooo looking forward to this!!!”

Then came the part likely to send some of her entertainment-industry critics reaching for the smelling salts. “Imagine being a part of the Trump Administration’s initiative to support small businesses. Let’s GO!!!!!!!!!!” Minaj wrote.

She later responded directly to SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler with another message: “Hi, Kelly! See ya soon :)”

The enthusiasm shouldn’t be entirely surprising. Minaj has become one of Trump’s most conspicuous celebrity supporters, publicly calling herself the president’s “number one fan” earlier this year and appearing alongside him at administration events.

The competition itself is part of the SBA’s Freedom 250 initiative celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. “Great American entrepreneurs themselves, Nicki Minaj, Grant Cardone, Joe Gebbia, and Dean Cain will only add to the excitement of this historic celebration of free enterprise,” Loeffler said in the SBA’s announcement Monday.

And unlike reality television, nobody gets sent home empty-handed. The five finalists — Compotech of Maine, Winton Machine of Georgia, Plas-Tech Tooling of Iowa, Red River of Wyoming and VetPowered of California — are all guaranteed money.

First place takes $400,000. Second gets $250,000, third $150,000, fourth $125,000 and fifth $75,000. The money comes from a $1 million prize pool funded by Clover Network, Inc.

Trump spent 14 years turning “The Apprentice” into one of television’s biggest franchises before making the rather unconventional career transition from reality-TV boss to leader of the free world. Now Washington is getting a taste of the old days. Except this time, instead of “You’re fired,” everybody gets a check.

MY QUICK TAKE

Nicki Minaj judging entrepreneurs, Superman running the show and a million bucks on the table.

Government has produced far worse television.

But the real entertainment may come before September 18. Minaj merely announcing that she’s thrilled to participate in a “Trump Administration” initiative should provide America’s celebrity resistance with enough material for several weeks of emotional distress.

Pass the popcorn.

DBS WIRE SOURCES