Nicki Minaj used a global stage at the United Nations to amplify President Donald Trump’s claims that Christians in Nigeria are facing escalating persecution. She urged international attention on “the deadly threat.”
Her appearance came as Trump continues to argue that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria and has directed the Pentagon to prepare for potential military involvement there. While experts acknowledge that Christian communities have been attacked, they stress that Nigeria’s long-running violence affects people across religious and ethnic lines, making civilians of all backgrounds vulnerable.
Minaj, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, praised Trump’s decisive posture and thanked him for pushing for swift action “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.”
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She joined U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and religious leaders at a panel hosted by the U.S. mission to the United Nations. The invitation followed her earlier online response to Trump’s remarks about Nigeria, where she wrote, “No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion.”
The broader discussion arrived as Pope Leo XIV warned in a Sunday post on X that Christians face discrimination and persecution in multiple regions, including Nigeria, Bangladesh, Mozambique and Sudan.
Waltz, introducing Minaj to the audience, said, “She steps on to this world stage not as a celebrity but as a witness … to spotlight Nigeria’s persecuted church” for her millions of followers.
Minaj admitted she was “very nervous” to address the gathering but promised she would continue speaking out “in the face of injustice” for anyone targeted for their beliefs.
She reminded the audience that the challenge in Nigeria is part of a wider global pattern. “Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria, but also in so many other countries around the world,” she said.
Minaj also made a point of distancing her advocacy from any sense of division, saying her message was meant to bridge communities. “It is about uniting people,” she said, describing Nigeria as “a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions” that she hopes to visit.
The rapper briefly returned to familiar artistic territory, noting that music has shown her how people everywhere respond to rhythms that speak to their inner lives. She told the room that a meaningful song can make a crowd “come alive,” no matter where they are.
“Religious freedom means we all sing our faith regardless of who we are, where we live and what we believe,” the 42-year-old singer stated, as reported by AP.
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