Invitation follows Nicki Minaj’s comments supporting global religious freedom amid renewed U.S. scrutiny of violence in Nigeria.
United States Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz has extended an invitation to music superstar Nicki Minaj after the rapper publicly addressed concerns about the rising persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The outreach comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s announcement that his administration would once again designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to escalating religious violence.
Trump’s remarks, delivered earlier this week, accused radical Islamist groups of committing what he described as a “Christian genocide” in parts of Nigeria. He said he had instructed the House Appropriations Committee to open an immediate investigation into the situation and called on the U.S. Department of War to prepare for “possible action” targeting extremist groups in the region.
Minaj, who has built a massive global following, responded to these developments through her social media platform. The 12-time Grammy-nominated rapper expressed gratitude for the religious freedom she enjoys in the United States and stressed that no community anywhere should suffer persecution for their faith.
She urged her fans to stay informed about religious violence worldwide and to pray for those affected by the unrest.
Her message drew swift appreciation from Ambassador Waltz, who publicly acknowledged her influence in raising awareness.
In a post on X, Waltz thanked Minaj “for using your platform to speak out in defence of the Christians being persecuted in Nigeria,” asserting that the international community cannot allow such violence to continue. He called for unity among “every brother and sister of Christ” to push back against religious oppression.
Waltz went further by inviting Minaj to visit the U.S. Embassy to the United Nations in New York for a deeper discussion on the administration’s efforts to protect Christian freedoms across the world. He noted that he would welcome the opportunity to speak with the artist about U.S. initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable religious communities.
The ambassador’s invitation underscores growing U.S. attention on Nigeria’s security crisis and highlights the unusual but increasingly common intersection of celebrity influence and foreign policy.
As violence attributed to extremist groups persists, Washington officials say moves are underway to assess potential strategies to curb the threat and support targeted communities.
