Nicki Minaj sparked controversy among liberals by passionately commending US President Donald Trump for recognizing Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ due to Islamist violence targeting local Christians.
Nigeria is currently grappling with significant internal turmoil, largely driven by the jihadist insurgency led by Boko Haram in the northeastern part of the country since 2009.
Amidst various forms of violence, such as ethnic clashes and banditry, Islamist militants have been attacking Christians and Muslims they consider ‘apostates’ for not adhering to their strict interpretation of Islam.
Additionally, Fulani Muslim herdsmen have launched attacks on predominantly Christian farming communities, a complex conflict influenced by religion, ethnicity, and competition for diminishing arable land.
Some US politicians have accused the Nigerian government of being complicit in the violence against Christians, who represent just under half the population, compared to a slightly larger Muslim majority.
Responding to pressure from Republican lawmakers like Senator Ted Cruz and Congressman Riley Moore, Trump has labeled Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern,’ which prompted Minaj to express her approval on X.
Nicki Minaj, pictured in 2022, drew outrage from liberals by emotionally praising US President Donald Trump for his latest move regarding Nigeria
‘Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God,’ wrote Minaj, who arrived in America illegally at the age of five from her native Trinidad and has yet to obtain US citizenship.
‘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 added.
‘Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & it’s dangerous to pretend we don’t notice,’ added the rapper.
‘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.’
Liberal fans reacted with apoplexy, including one who tweeted: ‘Millions of families can’t feed their families today due to this government shutdown & Nicki Minaj using her platform to praise Donald Trump. What a weird a** bxtch ! I hope that next line you sniff takes you out bxtch.’
An X user called ‘nicki minaj apologist’ bewailed ‘the concept of me, a muslim, having a fav that is currently thanking trump for pushing anti-muslim propaganda.’
‘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,’ wrote another online observer.
Referring to the fact that Beyonce and Jay-Z were seated with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump at a gala event in September, the X user added: ‘and dont be a fkin hypocrite now cuz yall was coming for Beyonce a** for being out with that ho.’
Complying with demands by Republican legislators such as Senator Ted Cruz, Trump, pictured Friday, has designated Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern’
Liberal fans reacted with apoplexy, including one who raged: ‘What a weird a** bxtch ! I hope that next line you sniff takes you out bxtch’
‘You guys are just mad cuz Nicki Minaj can’t hide the fact that she’s a Trump but she’s made it clear she doesn’t stand with him,’ another social media commentator wrote.
‘Nicki, on the other hand, is out here thanking Trump. The same man who’s deporting and mistreating Black people. That’s what’s wild.’
Another fumed: ‘a huge celebrity like nicki publicly thanking trump just contributes to the normalization of this disgusting administration. what yall really need to be doing is make this administration and the people who support them uncomfortable.’
The Nigerian state and the Christian Association of Nigeria have denied claims that a ‘Christian genocide’ is unfolding in the country, an allegation that has been gathering steam on the American right and was also leveled by liberal commentator Bill Maher on a recent episode of his political talk-show Real Time with Bill Maher.
Maher, a fervent supporter of Israel, slammed what he felt was the media’s hypocrisy in focusing on Gaza while devoting scant attention to Nigeria.
Nigeria’s designation as a ‘country of particular concern’ (CPC) officially means that Washington views the country as being engaged in ‘particularly severe violations of religious freedom,’ under the International Religious Freedom Act of the Clinton era.
While announcing the move, Trump declared that ‘Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria’ and revealed he was also ‘asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter, and report back to me.’
He added: ‘The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!’
Minaj’s latest post comes days after she shared a video of Trump’s granddaughter Kai, 18, joining the TikTok trend of dancing to a remix of the rapper’s song Beez In the Trap and the single What’s Up? by Linda Perry’s band 4 Non Blondes.
Posting the clip of Kai to X, Minaj shared her own reactions in the form of a weary face emoji followed by a crying laughing emoji and then a heart.
