American rapper Nicki Minaj appeared at the United Nations (U.N.) alongside the Trump Administration to spotlight an alleged “Christian genocide” in Nigeria. Minaj’s presence fits into a broader political campaign that casts Nigeria, a U.S. partner just last year, as a government complicit in terrorism and unwilling to protect its Christian population.
Nicki Minaj’s U.N. stunt only distracts from the Trump Administration’s own failed Africa foreign policy record: boycotting Africa’s first G20 summit over claims of “white genocide” in South Africa, slashing foreign assistance, and walking away from key African trade agreements. Taken together, these actions mark one of the lowest points in modern U.S.–Africa relations.
Minaj is right to care about religious persecution. However, Minaj has jumped into the middle of a diplomatic dispute that has escalated since her involvement. The security crisis is more politically complex and nuanced than her simplistic message portrays. She should have engaged with Nigerian activists who have long worked on these issues before joining the Trump Administration’s “Christian genocide” campaign.
On the international stage, Minaj reiterated that she was “not taking sides”, however her speech illustrated her lack of understanding of the issues. Nicki Minaj is only being used as a political pawn rather than helping vulnerable communities. Instead, if she cared so deeply about “humanity,” then she should also raise concerns to the Trump Administration about the rollback of civil and human rights, rising Black unemployment, and highlight the Administration’s steady abandonment of Africa.
While working with USAID in Nigeria before its closure, we were able to interact with Nigerian government officials on implementing humanitarian and development programs. Addressing insecurity in Nigeria, which affects Muslims and Christians alike, was a key priority for the Nigerian government, donor agencies, and non-governmental agencies (NGOs).
President Trump could have avoided this political fiasco all together. By dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, President Trump cut the very foreign assistance programs designed to strengthen local governance, protect religious minorities, and reduce conflict in Nigeria.
What is at stake?
Now, with the celebrity endorsement of Nicki Minaj and the blessing of Christian Evangelicals, President Trump is emboldened to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC). The consequences of such a designation include blocking loans and financial assistance from the World Bank and further ending military and foreign assistance cuts, which could cripple the economy and HIV/AIDs funding. With Minaj in the political mix, who has over 200 million Instagram followers, President Trump is now able to legitimize and defend his brutal campaign to discredit Nigeria and push ahead with his “Christian genocide” claim.
Christian Genocide Allegations: Reactions From Nigeria
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has vehemently denied claims that a Christian genocide is taking place in Nigeria. His administration appears to have been blindsided by President Trump’s announcement. While welcoming U.S. assistance to fight terrorism, President Tinubu called for Nigeria’s sovereignty to be respected.
Tinubu’s Administration was also snubbed at Minaj’s event at the U.N., escalating diplomatic tensions even further. The U.S. Senior Advisor for African Affairs, Patricia Mahoney, told the Nigerian government that they were not invited, including the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the U.N. Although the Tinubu administration argued that Nigeria’s security situation is complex, the message has fallen on deaf ears in Trump circles. Meanwhile, Nigerian opposition figures have used the political moment to criticize the government for failures in security and governance ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 election.
Minaj Entangled in Thorny U.S.-Nigeria Relations
Nicki Minaj has gotten herself entangled in a long diplomatic dispute with no clear outcomes for either country. Some analysts believe President Trump could therefore be using the “Christian genocide” narrative as a pretext to obtain access to lucrative oil and critical mineral contracts by force.
Trump is trying to block China’s monopoly over the critical mineral supply chain in Africa. However, China has already yielded billions of dollars in infrastructure investments in Nigeria. Recent comments by Congressman Scott Perry from Pennsylvania alleged without evidence that USAID funded Boko Haram, causing confusion in Nigerian political circles and creating a thorn in U.S.-Nigerian relations.
Further strain in the U.S.-Nigeria diplomatic relationship occurred when Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar publicly stated that his country does not have the capacity to manage U.S. deportees, as Nigeria has problems of its own. Rwanda and Ghana have already agreed to accept deportees from the U.S., even if the deportees are not originally from those countries.
The Impact of USAID Closure
President Trump could have avoided the escalation of terrorism threats in Northern Nigeria if he had maintained critical foreign assistance programs that were essential to U.S. national security. The sudden closure of USAID has deprived the Trump Administration of an effective, relatively low-cost foreign policy tool that could have helped address the killing of innocent Nigerians by terrorism.
In FY 2024, the US Congress appropriated for Nigeria just under $1 billion in foreign assistance to address humanitarian issues, health and nutrition, HIV/AIDS, democracy and governance, and economic growth.
The Peace, Democracy and Governance Office at USAID managed a portfolio of $7.9 million for FY2024 that included programs to empower civil society to address peacebuilding and civil violence in areas where herdsmen and Boko Haram have perpetrated the killing of Christians and members of other religious groups.
As soon as USAID ended its programs in education and conflict resolution programs in the North, Boko Haram became more emboldened to terrorize communities that were once relatively peaceful.
Peace Through Diplomacy and Not Through “Strength”
President Trump’s military threat may further stoke ethnic and religious divisions in a country with a long history of poor governance and corruption, military rule, and ongoing security challenges. Using military intervention is politically risky for the U.S. and Nigeria, and could destabilize the region, causing a major humanitarian crisis that could spur migration out of control.
However, opportunities for a reset in relations exist. President Trump should hold off on promoting Nicki Minaj as a cultural ambassador and begin by recognizing again that Nigeria serves as a vital partner in combating terrorism in West Africa.
President Trump must strengthen U.S.-Nigerian commercial ties and collaborate more closely on governance, security, trade, and development. And while President Trump has unfortunately made disparaging remarks about African countries, including most recently South Africa, a visit by him to the African continent, including to Nigeria, could restore U.S. credibility and trust as a reliable partner.
For its part, the Nigerian government urgently needs to appoint ambassadors and lobbyists to engage Congress and build a stronger diplomatic relationship with the Trump administration. Nigeria also needs to re-engage constructively with its diaspora in the U.S. Additionally, rather than disparaging critics of its policies, the Tinubu administration needs to more skillfully manage its response to the allegations of a Christian genocide and restructure the cabinet to address longstanding concerns that it is lopsided towards certain regions and groups and neglects Nigeria’s diversity.
These actions would only be a start towards redefining U.S.-Nigeria ties. But it is clear that a stronger Nigeria, not overwhelmed by insecurity and poverty, will not only be beneficial to Nigerians but also contribute to President Trump’s stated foreign policy goals of making America stronger, safer, and more prosperous.