Nicki Minaj is preparing to take the stage alongside U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz at an upcoming event focused on the reported persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The appearance was first revealed by Time magazine correspondent Eric Cortellessa, who announced on Sunday that the two would be delivering remarks on Tuesday, November 18th. He noted that “the unexpected collaboration was arranged by Trump advisor @AlexBruesewitz, who will also speak at the Tuesday event.”
Waltz openly praised Minaj while discussing their planned appearance, calling her “arguably the greatest female recording artist” and describing her as a “principled individual” for choosing not to “remain silent in the face of injustice.” He further expressed gratitude for her advocacy, saying, “I’m grateful she’s leveraging her massive platform to spotlight the atrocities against Christians in Nigeria… And I look forward to standing with her as we discuss the steps the President and his administration are taking to end the persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters.”
Minaj responded directly to Waltz on X, thanking him for the opportunity and reaffirming her commitment to speaking out. “Ambassador, I am so grateful to be entrusted with an opportunity of this magnitude,” she wrote. “I do not take it for granted. It means more than you know. The Barbz & I will never stand down in the face of injustice. We’ve been given our influence by God. There must be a bigger purpose.”
Earlier this month, Minaj also reacted to Trump’s claims that Christianity is “facing an existential threat” in Nigeria. She shared her own perspective, writing, “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.” She urged compassion regardless of belief, adding, “We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other… God bless every persecuted Christian.”
The wider political context remains complex. Nigeria’s population is split roughly evenly between Christians and Muslims, and while Trump has threatened to designate the nation a “Country of Particular Concern,” Nigerian officials pushed back. A presidential spokesman told the Associated Press that the U.S. cannot “carry out any military operation” over these claims, describing Trump’s stance as an attempt to provoke negotiations. Nigerian authorities also argued that location, not religion, is the primary factor in violence, insisting there is “no systematic, intentional attempt” to target a particular faith group.
Meanwhile, similar disputes have unfolded in South Africa, where white Afrikaner groups recently rejected Trump’s characterization of a “white genocide,” insisting the narrative does not reflect conditions on the ground.