Story Highlights
- Nicki Minaj praises President Donald Trump’s stance on protecting religious minorities in Nigeria.
- Speaking at a UN event, she calls for an end to faith-based persecution.
- Minaj joins U.S. officials and faith leaders in highlighting violence against Christians.
Rap superstar Nicki Minaj took a strong stand on Tuesday, praising U.S. President Donald Trump for raising alarms about the persecution of religious minorities in Nigeria. Speaking at a United Nations event in New York, Minaj called for the world to confront what she described as a deadly threat to Christians in the West African nation — a claim the Nigerian government denies.
“The Deadly Threat” Minaj Wants the World to See
At the U.S.-organized UN panel, Minaj echoed Trump’s recent allegations that Christians face growing persecution in Nigeria. Trump has claimed Christianity is under “existential threat” there and has instructed the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action.
While experts agree that some attacks target Christians, many emphasize that Nigeria’s long-running violence affects communities of all backgrounds and beliefs, not just one group.
Still, Minaj thanked Trump for pushing the issue into global focus.
She praised his leadership and his call to “defend Christians in Nigeria, to combat extremism and to bring a stop to violence against those who simply want to exercise their natural right to freedom of religion or belief.”
From Social Media to the World Stage
The event followed Minaj’s response earlier this month to one of Trump’s social media posts about Nigeria, where she wrote:
“No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion.”
At Tuesday’s panel, hosted at the U.S. Mission to the UN, Minaj spoke alongside U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and several faith leaders.
Waltz introduced her by saying she wasn’t there as a celebrity but as a witness using her global platform to “spotlight Nigeria’s persecuted church.”
Minaj: “I’ll Keep Speaking Up Against Injustice”
Visibly nervous, Minaj admitted it wasn’t easy to address such a serious topic. But she vowed to keep speaking out for people everywhere who face persecution for their beliefs.
“Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria, but also in so many other countries around the world,” she said.
Her message was clear: protecting Christians in Nigeria isn’t about choosing sides or dividing communities.
“It is about uniting people,” she said, describing Nigeria as “a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions” — one she hopes to visit soon.
Support From Pope Leo XIV
Her remarks came shortly after Pope Leo XIV posted on X that Christians worldwide are suffering discrimination and persecution, naming Nigeria, Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Sudan as examples.
Music, Faith, and Freedom
Minaj struck a softer note when she reflected on her global music career, saying she has seen how people everywhere “come alive” when a song touches their soul.
“Religious freedom means we all sing our faith,” she said, “regardless of who we are, where we live and what we believe.”
