Rapper Nicki Minaj delivered a powerful message at the United Nations on Tuesday, calling global attention to what she described as religious violence and persecution against Christians in Nigeria. The appearance, hosted by the U.S. Mission to the U.N., was coordinated in part by U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and former Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz.
In her remarks, Minaj said, “In Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed. Churches have been burned, families have been torn apart … simply because of how they pray.”
She described the situation as a broader threat to faith, stressing that “faith is under attack in way too many places.”
Minaj thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for pushing the narrative on religious violence in Nigeria, calling his advocacy “urgent action to defend Christians … and to bring a stop to violence.”
She insisted her speech wasn’t partisan, saying: “This isn’t about taking sides … it is about uniting humanity.”
U.S. Ambassador Waltz praised her for leveraging her influence to spotlight suffering communities. He called her “a principled individual who refuses to remain silent in the face of injustice.”
Minaj also addressed her fans, calling them “Barbz,” and spoke of her responsibility as a public figure. “We’ve been given our influence by God. There must be a bigger purpose,” she said.
However, her intervention drew mixed reactions. Former presidential aide Reuben Abati criticized her involvement, suggesting she was pursuing clout rather than substance. He argued she should “stick to Anaconda” instead of speaking on complex geopolitical issues.
