Over the weekend, rapper Nicki Minaj publicly thanked President Donald Trump and his administration for taking steps to help persecuted Christians in Nigeria. Her comments came just one day after President Trump announced that Nigeria will be officially designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to what he described as ongoing and severe persecution of Christians by radical Islamist groups.
Minaj, whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, posted her response on X (formerly Twitter). She expressed appreciation for the move and used her platform to bring attention to the issue. “Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude,” she wrote. “We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion.”
She continued by urging unity and mutual respect among people of different faiths. “We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other,” she said. “Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & it’s dangerous to pretend we don’t notice.” Minaj concluded her initial post with a message to the president and his team: “Thank you to The President & his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Let’s remember to lift them up in prayer.”
Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God.
No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other.
Numerous countries all… pic.twitter.com/2M5sPiviQu
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) November 1, 2025
The Grammy-nominated artist, who was raised in a Christian household, later emphasized the importance of protecting freedom of worship for all religions. “[T]here are ‘extremists’ in every religion,” she added. “Sending love to our Muslim Barbz. Every single one of us should be able to worship in peace.” Minaj has a large and active fanbase, known as the “Barbz,” and often engages with them directly on social media.
Exactly & there are “extremists” in every religion.
Sending love to our Muslim Barbz.
Every single one of us should be able to worship in peace. https://t.co/F25K2V6r8q— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) November 1, 2025
President Trump’s official announcement was posted on Friday on Truth Social. In the message, he stated that Christianity is under serious threat in Nigeria, citing thousands of deaths allegedly caused by radical Islamist groups. “Thousands of Christians are being killed,” the president wrote. “Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.” He further noted, “When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done!”
Trump then directed members of Congress, including Congressman Riley Moore and Chairman Tom Cole, to look into the matter and report back. “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries,” he added. “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz also weighed in, praising Minaj for bringing attention to the issue. Waltz invited her to meet in person to learn more about what the Trump administration is doing to protect religious freedoms abroad. “[Nicki Minaj], thank you for using your platform to speak out in defense of the Christians being persecuted in Nigeria,” he wrote on X. “We cannot allow this to continue. Every brother and sister of Christ must band together and say, ‘Enough!’” He added that he would be happy to speak with her further at the U.S. Embassy in New York.
Minaj’s comments have drawn attention not just because of the topic, but because of her willingness to speak out in support of a Republican president’s actions. While celebrity endorsements of political figures aren’t new, it’s less common for mainstream pop artists to praise conservative leaders publicly.
As noted by The Daily Wire, Nigeria was previously designated a Country of Particular Concern during Trump’s first term in office. That label was removed by the Biden administration, but reinstated in 2025 under Trump’s leadership. The CPC designation allows the U.S. to apply targeted sanctions or other measures in response to religious persecution.
For many observers, this moment marks a rare crossover between pop culture and foreign policy. And for the Christians suffering in Nigeria, it could mean increased attention and action from the international community.
