American rapper Onika Tanya Maraj, popularly known as Nicki Minaj, has praised former U.S. President Donald Trump for designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to alleged cases of religious persecution, particularly against Christians.
Trump, in a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Friday, claimed that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” alleging that “radical Islamists are responsible for widespread killings of Christians.”
He further stated, “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening. We will stand ready, willing, and able to protect our great Christian population around the world.”
Reacting via her official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Minaj expressed gratitude for her freedom to worship and urged global awareness of ongoing religious oppression.
She wrote:
“Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practising their religion. We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order to respect each other.”
Minaj also warned that religious persecution remains a growing global crisis and encouraged solidarity through prayer and advocacy.
“Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror, and it’s dangerous to pretend we don’t notice. Thank you to The President and his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian,” she added.
The designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” is one of the highest U.S. classifications for nations accused of violating religious freedom, potentially carrying diplomatic and economic consequences.
Observers note that the move could reignite discussions on religious tolerance, state protection of minority faiths, and human rights enforcement in Nigeria.
