In a surprising political alliance, renowned rapper Nicki Minaj appeared alongside Trump administration officials at a United Nations event on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, to demand an end to the violent persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
UN Speech Highlights Religious Violence
During her brief but impactful remarks at the US Mission to the United Nations in New York City, Minaj expressed gratitude toward former President Donald Trump for his attention to the crisis. "I would like to thank President Trump for prioritizing this issue and for his leadership on the global stage in calling for urgent action to defend Christians in Nigeria," the Trinidadian-American artist stated.
She elaborated on the severity of the situation, describing how "faith is under attack in way too many places." Minaj detailed specific atrocities, noting that "Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed" while churches face destruction and communities live in constant fear simply because of their religious beliefs.
Complex Reality of Nigeria's Religious Conflict
While Trump has characterized the situation as an "existential threat" against Nigerian Christians and suggested potential military intervention, experts caution that the reality involves more complexity. According to CNN reporting from earlier in November, Nigeria maintains a nearly equal population of Christians and Muslims, with both religious groups suffering attacks from extreme Islamist organizations.
The West African nation's religious violence affects multiple communities, though Minaj's address specifically highlighted the persecution facing Christian populations. During her speech, she also acknowledged her Nigerian fanbase, mentioning that the country is home to many "Barbz" - the nickname for her dedicated followers.
Continuing Advocacy and Unlikely Alliances
This isn't the first instance of Minaj engaging with this issue or interacting with Trump's political circle. Earlier in November, she used social media platform X to declare that "No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion." Her post included a screenshot of Trump's October 31 Truth Social message discussing the same subject, where he claimed "thousands of Christians are being killed" by radical Islamists.
The rapper's relationship with the Trump administration previously made headlines when the White House posted a TikTok video featuring her popular song "Beez In The Trap" alongside clips of Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump. Minaj commented "This is pretty incredible" on the post, signaling her unexpected approval.
Ambassador Mike Waltz, Trump's representative to the United Nations, explained how Minaj became involved in Tuesday's event during an appearance on "The Faulkner Focus." He described the collaboration as "an unlikely duo, but what an amazing duo," noting that the rapper had responded to Trump's earlier statements about Nigeria.
Concluding her UN speech, Minaj directly addressed her international followers while clarifying her motivations. "Barbz, I know you're somewhere listening. I love you so very much," she expressed. "This isn't about taking sides. This is about standing up in the face of injustice."
