Nicki Minaj Invited by Trump Official After Nigeria Comments

Rapper Nicki Minaj found herself at the center of a political discussion after publicly praising President Donald Trump’s claims regarding the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria. This led to an invitation from a high-ranking Trump administration official to discuss the matter further.

An Invitation to Discuss Nigeria

Mike Waltz, identified as Trump’s U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former national security advisor, extended an invitation to Minaj to visit his office at the U.S. embassy in New York City. The rapper, whose real name is Onika Maraj, had expressed gratitude for Trump’s assertions that Christians in Nigeria face an “existential threat” and that thousands have allegedly been killed due to their faith.

Waltz responded to Minaj’s post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “@NICKIMINAJ, thank you for using your platform to speak out in defense of the Christians being persecuted in Nigeria. We cannot allow this to continue. Every brother and sister of Christ must band together and say, ‘Enough!’” He further invited her to the U.S. Embassy to “speak with you in more depth about what our administration is doing to protect Christians’ freedoms all over the world.”

Nigeria Disputes Claims of Persecution

However, the narrative presented by Trump and amplified by Minaj has been contested by Nigeria. The country has rejected the suggestion that Christians are being systematically persecuted and killed in large numbers. Reports indicate that violent clashes in Nigeria involve various groups, both religious and ethnic, and are often related to competition over resources.

Experts suggest that the majority of victims in Nigeria’s Muslim-majority north, where most attacks occur, are actually Muslims. Information Minister Idris Muhammed stated to the Associated Press, “There is no systematic, intentional attempt either by the Nigerian government or by any serious group to target a particular religion.” A spokesperson for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also noted that claims often rely on outdated reports from over a decade ago concerning the Boko Haram insurgency.

Minaj Responds to Critics

Minaj faced significant backlash online for her praise of Trump’s claims. In response to critics, she posted a message (later deleted) defending her stance: “Imagine hearing that Christians are being persecuted & not being able to have empathy for THEM b/c you are blinded by your own personal obsession with Trump. This says more about you than him, my darling.”