‘Sit this one out’: Nigerians tell Nicki Minaj after she praises Donald Trump on Christian persecution
Nicki Minaj’s message of gratitude to Donald Trump over his comments on Christian persecution in Nigeria has ignited debate online — with many Nigerians telling her to “sit this one out.”
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Rapper Nicki Minaj has found herself at the centre of a heated international debate after she thanked United States President Donald Trump for speaking out about what he described as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
While her message of solidarity drew praise from conservative commentators in the United States, many Nigerians accused her of oversimplifying a deeply complex crisis — and told her to “sit this one out”.
Nicki Minaj’s post
On Saturday, Minaj shared a message on X (formerly Twitter) reacting to Trump’s warning that the United States could cut aid or even consider military action if Nigeria failed to protect its Christian population.
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 practicing their religion. We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other.
"Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & it’s dangerous to pretend we don’t notice. Thank you to The President & his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Let’s remember to lift them up in prayer.”
Her post — viewed more than 43 million times before midday on Monday — positioned the global superstar within one of the most politically charged conversations in Africa and Washington alike.
‘Sit this one out’ — Nigerian backlash
The backlash from Nigerians on X was swift. Many told the Trinidadian-born rapper to stay out of their politics, accusing her of echoing Western misinformation about the causes of violence in Nigeria’s north.
“Sit this one out, please; you have no idea about the intricacies of Nigerian national politics,” one user replied. “In Nigeria, we have families where one parent is Christian and the other Muslim, so stay out of our national politics.”
Another wrote: “Before you get ahead of yourself, do some research on who funds these terrorist groups all over the world. The answer is right where you are.”
A third user added: “Feel free to visit Nigeria again and stop parroting every propaganda you read on the internet. The recent killings have nothing to do with a Christian genocide.”
Former senator Shehu Sani also weighed in, writing: “The designation of Nigeria as a country persecuting Christians is founded on outright falsehoods. Terrorists and bandits in Nigeria kill and kidnap their victims irrespective of their religious beliefs.”
Support from U.S. officials and conservatives
But not everyone criticised Minaj. US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz praised her for “using her platform to speak out in defence of persecuted Christians”.
“Thank you for using your platform to speak out in defense of Christians being persecuted in Nigeria. We cannot allow this to continue. Every brother and sister of Christ must band together and say, ‘Enough!’” Waltz posted on X, inviting Minaj to meet him to discuss the issue further.
Other conservative voices also applauded her. Right-wing commentator Riley Gaines wrote:
“Nicki Minaj is the first major figure in Hollywood I’ve seen speak out about the Christian persecution in Nigeria. I hope others follow her lead.”
Trump’s warning and Nigeria’s response
Trump’s remarks last week — in which he threatened to cut aid and consider “boots on the ground” if killings continued — have been rejected by Nigeria’s government.
Presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale said the US was “misinformed about the realities on the ground,” insisting the violence affects both Christians and Muslims.
Nigeria has long struggled with attacks by extremist groups and armed bandits, but officials and analysts warn that labelling it as “religious persecution” oversimplifies a complex mix of ethnic, economic, and political conflicts.
Faith, fame and foreign politics
For Minaj, the incident underscores how celebrity activism can quickly become political crossfire. While her post framed the issue in moral and spiritual terms, critics saw it as an implicit endorsement of Trump’s foreign policy stance — and of a contested narrative about religion in Nigeria.
Some Nigerians thanked her for caring, but most argued that her global influence comes with a responsibility to understand the nuances before speaking.
As one commentator wrote: “Nicki Minaj meant well. But sometimes, meaning well isn’t enough. She should’ve sat this one out.”
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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