Nicki Minaj is set to work with the Trump administration on the plight of Christians in Nigeria.
Mike Waltz, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations, announced a meeting with the rapper on X, writing: “I look forward to standing with her as we discuss the steps the President and his administration are taking to end the persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters.”
Newsweek has contacted a representative for Minaj, the White House, and the office for the U.S. mission to the United Nations, outside of regular working hours via email, for comment.
Why It Matters
Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa, with a population of 240 million, and is a major power with the fourth-highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on the continent.
The county is evenly split between Christians and Muslims. The nation, though, has long been faced with suggestions by some evangelical Christians in the U.S. and politicians that there is a deliberate campaign of extermination being undertaken against Nigeria’s Christian population.
There are conflicting statistics about how many Christians have died in Nigeria, and how many have died as a result of their faith. International Christian advocacy group Open Doors lists Nigeria as the seventh-most dangerous place for Christians on its World Watch list and says “more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined.”
Nigeria has said it is committed to tackling violent extremism but has rejected any suggestion that a genocide against Christians is taking place in the West African nation.
In his first administration, Trump placed Nigeria on the U.S. religious freedom watchlist, but former President Joe Biden lifted that designation during his administration. Trump has now announced his intent to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” for religious freedom violations.
What To Know
Journalist Eric Cortellessa of TIME posted on X that Waltz and Minaj are set to deliver remarks this week on “the persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” in a post viewed 1.3 million times.
Responding to this on X, Waltz confirmed the meeting, saying that he was looking forward to meeting with Minaj and praised her for being “a principled individual who refuses to remain silent in the face of injustice.”
Minaj, in turn, replied to this and said that she is “so grateful to be entrusted with an opportunity of this magnitude.”
She added that she and the “Barbz,” a name for her fans, will “never stand down in the face of injustice.”
Minaj has previously spoken about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and praised Trump for his remarks on the matter. She wrote in a post on X in early November: “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 around the world are being affected by this horror & it’s dangerous to pretend we don’t notice.”
The violence in Nigeria is being carried out by Islamic jihadist groups, including Fulani militants, Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province), according to Open Doors.
In 2009, Boko Haram launched an insurgency to establish a caliphate in Nigeria and the broader Sahel (the semi-arid transitional zone between the Sahara and savannas).
Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s foreign ministry, has said that his country has “noted” the U.S. statement on religious freedom, saying: “We remain committed in our resolve to tackle the violent extremism that is fueled by special interests who have helped drive such decay and division in countries across the intersecting West African and Sahel regions.”
This designation from the U.S. would enable the institution of punitive measures and sanctions on the country, such as restricting non-humanitarian aid.
What People Are Saying
Nicki Minaj wrote in a post on X: “Ambassador, I am so grateful to be entrusted with an opportunity of this magnitude. I do not take it for granted. It means more than you know. The Barbz & I will never stand down in the face of injustice. We’ve been given our influence by God. There must be a bigger purpose.”
Daniel Bwala, an adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, said previously: “Nigeria is a partner nation to the U.S., not a hostile one. The ‘Christian genocide’ narrative is a misrepresentation of our complex security reality, which affects citizens of all faiths. We remain committed to solving our challenges through lawful, peaceful, and collaborative means, not external interference.”
President Trump, in a post on Truth Social in early November: “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”
What Happens Next
Nigeria’s government has expressed willingness to expand cooperation with the U.S. on counterterrorism, provided that respect for national sovereignty is maintained.
The House Appropriations Committee is set to look into the events in Nigeria in order to determine if further actions should be taken. The president will announce the measures the U.S. will take following his designation of “concern” regarding Nigeria.
