Rap superstar Nicki Minaj recently thanked President Donald Trump for bringing attention to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, expressing deep gratitude for the president’s commitment to religious freedom. In a post on Truth Social, Trump outlined the growing threat to Christianity in the country, stating that thousands of Christians are being killed by radical Islamist groups. ‘The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries,’ Trump wrote, ‘we stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world!’
Minaj, who is open about her Christian faith, echoed Trump’s sentiments, stating that the president’s advocacy for religious freedom made her feel a ‘deep sense of gratitude.’ She emphasized that the ability to freely worship is a fundamental right. ‘We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other,’ she added. This issue has sparked international concern, with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz applauding Minaj for using her platform to speak out against the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. ‘We cannot allow this to continue,’ Waltz said, ‘Every brother and sister of Christ must band together and say, ‘Enough!’ ‘
The situation in Nigeria for Christians has deteriorated significantly, with entire villages being burned, worshippers murdered at Sunday services, and thousands displaced by Islamist groups. Mark Walker, Trump’s ambassador-designate for International Religious Freedom, noted that the persecution has been ongoing for years, with groups like ISWAP and Islamist Fulani ethnic militias contributing to the violence. ‘Even being conservative, it’s probably 4,000 to 8,000 Christians killed annually,’ Walker stated. The Nigerian government is under pressure to be more proactive in addressing these challenges.
Trump’s actions include designating Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act, a designation that signals systemic violations of religious freedom. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) defines this as ‘systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.’ This move is part of a broader effort to address the global issue of religious persecution and to mobilize international attention to confront extremism. The House Appropriations Committee has also called for a designation of Nigeria as a CPC, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the need for international solidarity in combating anti-Christian violence.