TL;DR
- Nicki Minaj praised Donald Trump for speaking out on Christian persecution in Nigeria.
- LGBTQ+ fans slammed her for supporting a politician known for anti-LGBTQ policies.
- Minaj defended herself, saying she supports both Christians and LGBTQ+ rights.
- She claimed critics are ignoring the reported violence in Nigeria due to “personal obsession” with Trump.
- The debate highlights tensions between religion, politics, and queer fandom loyalty.
Nicki Minaj’s Trump Praise Ignites LGBTQ+ Backlash
Rapper Nicki Minaj set off a political firestorm over the weekend after applauding Donald Trump for comments he made about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria. The “Super Bass” superstar shared a screenshot of Trump’s post from his social platform calling the situation an “existential threat,” and said she felt a “deep sense of gratitude” for his stance on religious persecution.
Trump’s message claimed “thousands of Christians are being killed” in Nigeria and said the country should be labeled a “Country of Particular Concern.” That label is a formal U.S. designation used for nations accused of violating religious freedom. Nigerian officials quickly rejected the claim, saying no such “Christian genocide” is taking place — but Minaj still thanked Trump “and his team” for taking the issue seriously.
“We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion,” Minaj wrote, urging followers to acknowledge global religious violence and keep persecuted Christians in their prayers.
Fans Clap Back — And Nicki Claps Right Back
The response from her LGBTQ+ fanbase — historically one of her most loyal communities — was swift. Many pointed out Trump’s long history of pushing anti-LGBTQ policies, from rolling back protections for queer Americans to stacking courts with anti-equality judges. To queer fans, their rap idol praising him for any reason felt like a slap in the face.
Minaj, however, wasn’t backing down. In now-deleted posts on X, she told critics that acknowledging Christian persecution doesn’t erase her ongoing support for LGBTQ+ people.
“Imagine hearing that Christians are being persecuted & not being able to have empathy for THEM because you are blinded by your own personal obsession with Trump… This says more about you than him, my darling,” she wrote to one fan.
To another, she fired back: “Imagine hearing that Christians are being MURDERED & making it about you being gay.” She also referenced her own experiences with harassment, claiming her home was “swatted” multiple times with her young child inside — something she said had nothing to do with sexuality.
Minaj insisted she will continue to “advocate for LGBTQ+ people in the same way” she advocates for persecuted Christians, adding, “Like I always have… Just remember that.”
For many queer fans, Minaj’s comments reopened a familiar wound: celebrities embracing conservative talking points in the name of religion, then promising LGBTQ+ support later. While Minaj has long benefited from LGBTQ+ culture — from her fanbase to ballroom references and queer musical collaborators — her message felt to some like prioritizing religious solidarity over queer safety.
The concern isn’t about Christians having rights — LGBTQ+ people support religious freedom, too. What hit hard was that her praise went to a politician whose record includes targeting trans rights, banning queer people from the military, promoting conversion-focused allies, and pushing legislation that reversed queer progress. For a queer fanbase that helped shape Nicki’s cultural power, the moment felt like whiplash.
There is also a broader lesson for public figures: you cannot separate Trump from his policies. For LGBTQ+ communities around the world who are fighting to maintain basic rights, seeing a beloved artist appear to align with him — even on a single issue — triggers fear of normalization.
Minaj’s call for compassion across communities is important. Religious persecution is real, and deserves attention. But uplifting one group should never require downplaying another — especially one that has uplifted you for over a decade.
If Minaj wants her queer fans to trust that she has their backs “diligently” and “compassionately,” as she wrote, many will expect to see that support in action, not just in captions.