Nicki Minaj Speaks Out Against Alleged Christian Persecution in Nigeria at U.N. Event: ‘It Demands Urgent Action’

Nicki Minaj took the podium to speak out against the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria at a United Nations event organized by U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz on Tuesday (Nov. 18).

Minaj has voiced her concern with the alleged religious persecution taking place in the West African nation on multiple occasions in recent months on X, which drew the attention of Ambassador Waltz, who invited the Young Money rapper to speak at the event.

“I would like to thank President Trump for prioritizing this issue and his leadership on the global stage in calling for urgent action to defend Christians in Nigeria and to combat extremism and to bring a stop to violence against those who simply want to express their natural right to freedom of religion or belief,” she began.

Minaj continued: “Music has taken me around the globe. I have seen how people no matter their language, culture or religion, come alive when they hear a song that touches their soul. Religious freedom means we all can sing our faith regardless of who we are, where we live and what we believe. But today, faith is under attack in way too many places.”

The Queens native explained that the religious persecution “demands urgent action” from the U.S. government, but she also made sure to clarify this isn’t about “taking sides or dividing people,” it’s about “uniting humanity.”

“In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed. Churches have been burned, families have been torn apart and entire communities live in fear constantly simply because of how they pray,” she explained. “Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria, but so many countries across the world and it demands urgent action. I want to be clear, protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity.”

Minaj concluded: “I want to make it clear once again, this isn’t about taking sides. This is about standing up in the face of injustice. It’s about what I’ve always stood for my entire career and I will continue to stand for that for the rest of my life.”

Her comments come on the heels of President Trump designating Nigeria as a future addition to the list of Countries of Particular Concern.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump said in a video on Truth Social shared Nov. 5.

A Nigerian presidential spokesman previously told The Associated Press that the U.S. cannot “carry out any military operation” in Nigeria over the claims of religious persecution. Spokesman Daniel Bwala said that this is “Trump’s style of going forceful in order to force a sit-down and have a conversation.”

“There is no systematic, intentional attempt either by the Nigerian government or by any serious group to target a particular religion,” Information Minister Idris Muhammed told AP in October, and downplayed reports of Christian persecution.

Watch Nicki Minaj’s full speech below.