Rap icon Nicki Minaj has expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for drawing global attention to the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Trump, in a statement posted Friday on Truth Social, condemned what he described as the “mass slaughter” of Christians in the country by radical Islamist groups.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote. “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and other nations. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.”
Minaj, who has openly spoken about her Christian faith, said the president’s remarks deeply resonated with her.
“Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude,” she posted. “We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order to respect one another.”
The “Super Bass” singer further urged her followers to remain aware of the global crisis facing Christians.
“Many nations are affected by this horror, and it’s dangerous to act like we don’t see it,” Minaj added. “Thank you to the president and his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Let’s continue to lift them up in prayer.”
Her comments drew praise from U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, who thanked the artist for using her influence to speak out on the issue.
“Thank you, Nicki, for using your platform to defend Christians being persecuted in Nigeria,” Waltz said. “We cannot allow this to continue. Every brother and sister in Christ must stand together and say, ‘Enough!’”
Reports of violence against Christians in Nigeria have surged in recent years, with entire villages razed, churches destroyed, and worshippers killed during services. Thousands have been displaced by extremist groups, including Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and armed Fulani militias.
Mark Walker, the president’s nominee for Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, described the crisis as longstanding and severe.
“Even being conservative, it’s probably 4,000 to 8,000 Christians killed annually,” Walker told Fox News Digital. “This has been happening for years, and the Nigerian government needs to be far more proactive.”
President Trump revealed that he has instructed Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.), Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), and members of the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the situation and report their findings.
He also announced plans to redesignate Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act, a classification applied to nations that engage in or tolerate “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom,” according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
In a statement, the House Appropriations Committee emphasized the urgency of Trump’s decision.
“Nigeria is the most dangerous nation on Earth to follow Christ,” the committee said. “Christians are being kidnapped, attacked, and slaughtered for their faith. By redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, the United States is sending a clear message: religious persecution will not be tolerated.”
The committee added that once the government shutdown concludes, it will resume efforts to pass full-year appropriations to advance the president’s priorities.
“We know you’ll be ready at your desk with a pen in hand,” the statement concluded.
