Rapper Nicki Minaj will join U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz at a U.N.-related event on Tuesday in New York to discuss the Trump administration’s response to violence against Christians in Nigeria. The appearance follows an online exchange and reporting that brought fresh attention to the issue, which rights groups say has claimed thousands of lives this year even as Nigeria’s government rejects allegations of state-backed religious persecution.
Nicki Minaj is expected to appear this week alongside U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz at a United Nations–related event in New York focused on violence against Christians in Nigeria. Initial details of the plan were reported Sunday by TIME’s Eric Cortellessa in a post on X and confirmed in subsequent coverage; Waltz signaled the appearance in his own post. The Daily Wire also reported the event. (theguardian.com)
Cortellessa said the collaboration was arranged by Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz and scheduled for Tuesday. Multiple outlets echoed his account, and Waltz replied on X praising Minaj and previewing joint remarks early this week. (thegrio.com)
On November 16, Waltz lauded Minaj on X as “arguably the greatest female recording artist” and “a principled individual who refuses to remain silent,” adding that he looked forward to discussing steps the administration is taking to address the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Minaj responded on November 17 that she was grateful for the opportunity and would “never stand down in the face of injustice.” (dailywire.com)
The appearance comes after President Donald Trump announced on October 31 that the United States would designate Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations under the International Religious Freedom Act—an action that can open the door to sanctions. The independent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom welcomed the designation on November 3. (apnews.com)
Minaj publicly thanked the administration after Trump’s post, writing that “no group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion” and, “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.” (yahoo.com)
Human-rights group International Society of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), based in Anambra State, reports that at least 7,087 Christians were killed in Nigeria from January 1 to August 10, 2025, with thousands more abducted—figures cited by several outlets. Those tallies are contested and rely on compilations from media and NGO reports. (christiantoday.com)
Nigerian officials reject the premise of state-supported religious persecution. On November 4 in Berlin, Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar said such persecution would be “impossible” under Nigeria’s constitution; the government has also pushed back against the U.S. designation itself. (reuters.com)
Waltz holds the post of U.S. ambassador to the U.N. after Senate confirmation in September 2025. He previously served briefly as national security adviser earlier this year. (abcnews.go.com)
Analysts note that extremist violence in Nigeria has harmed both Christians and Muslims, and data on victims’ religious identity are often incomplete; still, international watchdogs and U.S. officials say attacks on churches and Christian communities remain a serious concern. (forbes.com)
