Political commentator Michael Knowles didn’t hold back his admiration recently—for both President Donald Trump and an unlikely ally, pop icon Nicki Minaj. In a recent segment of The Michael Knowles Show, he celebrated their courage for spotlighting one of the most overlooked crises in the world today: the mass persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
“It takes courage to come out if you’re Nicki Minaj and endorse Trump in this way,” Knowles said. “And it’s so beautiful to see her care about this issue and really promote this issue.” He praised Minaj for showing genuine compassion at a time when few in entertainment dare to speak openly about faith or Christian suffering.
Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God.
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) November 1, 2025
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.
Numerous countries all… pic.twitter.com/2M5sPiviQu
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Knowles read from President Trump’s statement declaring that Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria, where thousands have been slaughtered by radical Islamists. Trump vowed to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and ordered Congress to investigate, declaring the U.S. “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening.”
To Knowles, Trump’s stance wasn’t just political—it was philosophical. “When Donald Trump says he’s America first, some people hear that and they say that means he’s an isolationist,” Knowles said. “No. I’ve long said Trump is an imperialist. He recognizes America’s role throughout the world.”
Knowles argued that Trump’s foreign policy shows prudence and strength—a willingness to defend American interests while standing up for moral truth. “He wants to preserve America’s capital, maintain the world order, establish peace and prioritize American citizens over everyone else,” Knowles said. “But he does care about everyone else.”
He also tied Trump’s call to action to America’s moral identity. “We’re a Christian country and they’re Christians, and we have a solidarity with them because of that,” Knowles said. To him, protecting persecuted believers abroad isn’t interventionism—it’s moral responsibility.
The host went further, noting how this moment challenges old divisions between “isolationists” and “interventionists” on the right. He suggested that many who once opposed “forever wars” might now support limited humanitarian missions to stop atrocities like those in Nigeria.
Knowles also drew a striking historical parallel, saying America’s current turmoil—economic strain, social unrest and political chaos—feels eerily familiar. “It’s the ’70s. We’re living in the ’70s,” he said. “Everyone’s on drugs, there’s political violence in the streets and we have radical ideologies.” Yet amid the instability, he argued, Americans are rediscovering their sense of purpose and principle.
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Knowles closed his remarks with a reflection on Trump’s political instinct and philosophical depth, saying his leadership defies the usual partisan labels. “Every time you try to pin Trump down into some stupid faction or ideology, he slips away from you,” he said. “That means he’s a good politician and a good statesman—something conservatives would do well to learn from.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
