Award-winning American rapper Nicki Minaj , has amplified U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of growing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, using a United Nations platform to call attention to what she described as “a deadly threat.”
Nicki Minaj spoke at an event hosted by the U.S. Mission to the UN on Tuesday November 18, where she backed Trump’s recent warnings that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria. Trump has reportedly directed the Pentagon to consider possible military options in response.
While experts and residents acknowledge that some attacks specifically target Christians, they stress that Nigeria’s long-running violence affects people of all backgrounds, with no group exempt from becoming a victim.
Nicki Minaj, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, thanked Trump for “his leadership” and for demanding urgent action to defend Christians, combat extremism and protect people seeking to exercise their right to freedom of religion.
Her appearance followed a social-media exchange earlier this month in which she replied to Trump’s post on Nigeria, insisting that “no group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion.”
The panel also featured U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and several faith leaders. Waltz, who introduced the rapper, praised her for stepping onto the world stage “not as a celebrity but as a witness” willing to spotlight Nigeria’s persecuted church before her millions of followers.
Their remarks came as Pope Leo XIV, in a Sunday post on X, highlighted ongoing discrimination against Christians in several countries, including Nigeria, Bangladesh, Mozambique and Sudan.
Admitting she was “very nervous” addressing the panel, Minaj vowed to keep speaking “in the face of injustice” for people anywhere who are persecuted for their beliefs.
She added that the call to protect Christians in Nigeria “is not about taking sides,” but about uniting people and promoting peace in what she called “a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions.”
The rapper, making only one nod to her music career, said travel has shown her how a single song can move people everywhere. “Religious freedom means we all sing our faith regardless of who we are, where we live and what we believe,” she said.
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