Nelly is reportedly gearing up to do a favor for Donald Trump by performing at a club belonging to the U.S. president's son.
According to The Washington Times, the Country Grammar rapper is set to perform on Friday (April 24) at the Executive Branch, a Washington DC establishment owned by Donald Trump Jr. The event will be open to members only.
The following night, Saturday (April 25), is the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which Nicki Minaj is reportedly set to attend, also per The Washington Times.
Nelly previously performed at Trump's inauguration in January 2025. Before the celebration, Nelly said performing for Trump was an "honor."
"If you follow what I do, this shouldn’t even be an argument," Nelly said. "He’s the president. He won. This isn’t a campaign — this isn’t the RNC."
Nelly added that he didn't perform at the inauguration "for money," and said that he respects the office of the president. "It don’t matter who is in office," he explained. "The same way that our men and women, our brothers and sisters, who protect this country, have to go to war and put their lives on the line for whoever is in office. If they can put their life on the line for whoever's in office, I can damn sure perform."
However, Nelly’s appearance found him at the center of controversy. Months later, in June 2025, he stopped by Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning, where he was asked if he’s still on his "pro-Donald Trump stance?"
"See, this is what I’m saying, where did you get pro-Donald anything?" Nelly told Ebro. "What you had was respect for the office, and it’s great how people spin narratives to things I think best fit whatever they’re against, instead of giving a brother the exact fundamental of what he did, what he said. Nobody's doing that anymore. Everybody's, 'Oh, oh, if you did this, you are for him.'"
