Rap superstar Nicki Minaj recently expressed her appreciation for President Donald Trump's concern over the plight of Christians in Nigeria, leading to a polarized reaction among her followers and the public. President Trump had highlighted the existential danger faced by Christians in Nigeria, attributing the mass killings to radical Islamist groups and signaling the U.S.'s readiness to intervene.
Minaj, who has previously spoken about her Christian faith, took to Truth Social to voice her gratitude for President Trump's stance. "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 practicing their religion. We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other," she stated.
The response to Minaj's post was immediate and divided. While some social media users expressed disappointment with her support for President Trump, others commended her for taking a stand against religious persecution. The New York Post covered the backlash, with one Twitter user commenting, "Nicki Minaj really managed to disappoint me over and over again since last year. Sometimes her choices and the way she acts is just insane. Supporting Donald Trump is crazy."
The humanitarian crisis in Nigeria has escalated, with reports of entire villages destroyed, churchgoers murdered during services, and a significant number of people displaced due to the actions of Islamist extremist groups. Mark Walker, the ambassador-designate for International Religious Freedom, estimated the annual death toll of Christians in Nigeria to be between 4,000 and 8,000, urging the Nigerian government to take stronger measures.
In response to the crisis, President Trump has taken steps to address the situation. He directed representatives, including Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), along with members of the House Appropriations Committee, to investigate the atrocities in Nigeria and report their findings.
Further, President Trump announced his intention to designate Nigeria as a "country of particular concern" under U.S. law, which denotes nations accused of tolerating or engaging in severe violations of religious freedom. The House Appropriations Committee released a statement echoing the urgency of the issue, stating, "Nigeria is the most dangerous nation on Earth to follow Christ."
The committee also indicated its commitment to advancing full-year appropriations to support President Trump's priorities, looking forward to the resolution of the government shutdown for further action.
