Rapper Nicki Minaj has ignited a firestorm of criticism after announcing her involvement in a Trump administration initiative focused on Nigeria. The 42-year-old “Queen of Rap” is set to join U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz in New York to speak out against what they describe as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. The move, reportedly arranged by a Trump advisor, marks a significant and controversial foray into international politics for the superstar.
The collaboration was announced by Ambassador Waltz on social media, where he praised Minaj as “not only arguably the greatest female recording artist, but also a principled individual who refuses to remain silent in the face of injustice.” Minaj confirmed her participation, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and vowing that she and her fanbase, the “Barbz,” would “never stand down in the face of injustice.” Her involvement follows her public support for a post by former President Donald Trump on Truth Social, in which he claimed Nigeria was “allowing the killing of Christians” and promised a forceful U.S. response.
However, the Nigerian government and independent analysts present a more complex picture. President Bola Tinubu insists that Nigeria remains a democracy with constitutional religious liberty and that people “across faiths” are being killed. Experts note that the violence in the region stems from a tangled web of causes, including ethnic rivalries and disputes over land and water, rather than purely religious persecution. This complexity was lost on many of Minaj’s critics, who slammed her decision. Fans and observers took to social media to accuse her of “PR cosplay” and hypocrisy for siding with Trump, with many stating that only Nigerians should speak on their country’s complex internal issues.
