US Rapper Nicki Minaj is facing widespread criticism after publicly thanking U.S. President Donald Trump for threatening possible military intervention in Nigeria. Trump’s comments targeted Islamist terrorist groups, claiming that the West African nation was allowing “Islamic terrorists” to kill Christians unchecked.
What led to the Rapper’s comments?
In a post on Truth Social over the weekend, Trump stated:
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet.”
Minaj appeared to support his remarks, sharing a screenshot of Trump’s post on her social media and writing:
“No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order to respect one another. Numerous countries around the world are facing this horror, and it’s dangerous to pretend we don’t see it.”
She went on to thank Trump and his administration, adding:
“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.”
Trump’s Remarks Spark Global Concern
Trump’s statements, made between October 31 and November 1, labeled Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act. He claimed that over 3,000 Christians had been killed by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Fulani militants in 2025 alone. The U.S. president also threatened to suspend aid to Nigeria and authorize the “military defense of Christians worldwide.”
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu responded by emphasizing that violence in Nigeria affects “people across faiths and regions.” He noted that while Christian communities have suffered heavily from terrorism, Muslim populations have also faced attacks and displacement due to long-standing communal conflicts, poverty, and land disputes—factors unrelated to religion alone.
Human rights organizations such as Open Doors and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom report that Christians have indeed faced severe persecution, but experts caution that Trump’s comments oversimplify the country’s complex security challenges.
Minaj’s Comments Ignite Online Backlash
Minaj’s endorsement quickly went viral, attracting millions of views and triggering an intense online backlash. Many Nigerians accused her of being misinformed and insensitive to the country’s nuanced internal conflicts. Critics also condemned her for appearing to support foreign interference in African affairs.
As criticism mounted, Minaj responded on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“Imagine hearing that Christians are being MURDERED & making it about you being gay. I’ll always speak up for anyone being persecuted — Christian, Muslim, gay, whatever.”
However, her response did little to calm the controversy. Many argued that her comments oversimplified Nigeria’s crisis and appeared to validate Trump’s aggressive rhetoric rather than promote understanding or peace.
Despite the backlash, US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, praised Minaj for speaking out, inviting her to meet at the US Embassy in New York to discuss efforts to protect Christians globally, a meeting Minaj would be “honored” to attend.