Nicki Minaj Faces $295K Legal Battle After Her Trump Campaign Appearance

Nicki Minaj found herself at the center of two very different headlines on US Election Day. While the rapper made a public appearance in New Hampshire in support of a Trump-backed Republican candidate, her former lawyers returned to court with a renewed demand for $295,605 in allegedly unpaid legal fees.

The law firm Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani has asked the Los Angeles County Superior Court to enter a default judgment against Minaj, claiming she failed to honor an agreement covering legal services, fees and interest. The request was filed on Tuesday, November 3, with a hearing scheduled for November 16.

The amount is close to $300,000, but the court has not yet ruled on the claim.

Why Nicki Minaj’s Former Lawyers Want Nearly $300,000

The dispute stems from the firm’s representation of Minaj in a copyright infringement case involving her song I Lied.

The original lawsuit alleged that the track copied the instrumentation and beat of onmysleeve, a copyrighted song by musician Julius Johnson. That copyright dispute was eventually resolved through a private settlement and dismissed.

However, Nicki Minaj’s former legal representatives say the rapper did not pay the outstanding amount owed under their agreement.

The firm initially filed a separate lawsuit seeking to recover the money in March 2026. According to its latest court filing, Minaj has not responded to the claim despite being served.

With the required response period having passed, the lawyers are now seeking a default judgment for $295,605. A default judgment is a court decision that may be entered when a defendant fails to respond to a lawsuit. It does not mean the court has already approved the amount being claimed.

Minaj’s representatives had not publicly responded to the latest request at the time of reporting.

Legal Filing Coincides With Minaj’s New Hampshire Appearance

The timing of the renewed legal request attracted attention because it coincided with Minaj’s surprise appearance outside a polling station in Derry, New Hampshire.

Police reportedly escorted the rapper to the area around Pinkerton Academy, where she posed for photographs and interacted with people gathered nearby.

She was photographed in front of a campaign sign for Anthony DiLorenzo, a Trump-endorsed Republican businessman who lost his congressional bid to Democrat Stefany Shaheen.

The appearance came as Minaj increasingly positioned herself alongside Trump and Republican candidates during the 2026 midterm campaign.

From Trump Rally to Air Force One: Minaj’s Political Shift

Minaj’s New Hampshire appearance followed her participation in a Republican campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on October 25.

She traveled aboard Air Force One with Trump before joining him onstage, where she led the crowd in chants of “We love Trump” and encouraged support for Republican candidates.

The rapper also praised the president and promised to continue supporting him. Her remarks included criticism of gender-affirming care for children, placing her firmly alongside the administration’s messaging on the issue.

Trump, meanwhile, drew attention to Minaj’s appearance with a remark about her figure that became another talking point from the event.

Another Financial Dispute Adds to Minaj’s Legal History

The latest claim is not the first significant financial dispute involving Minaj.

In January 2026, she avoided the potential court-ordered sale of her reported $20 million Los Angeles mansion after paying a $500,000 default judgment. That case involved a security guard who accused her husband, Kenneth Petty, of assaulting him backstage during a 2019 concert in Germany.

The new dispute involving her former lawyers remains unresolved. The November 16 hearing could determine the next step in their effort to recover the money.

For now, Nicki Minaj’s public political appearances and her former legal team’s demand for nearly $300,000 have become parallel stories, with the court yet to decide whether she must pay the amount being sought.