US President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Nigeria on Friday, labeling the country “a disgrace” and renewing accusations that its government is failing to protect Christians from extremist attacks
On a conservative radio show, Trump warned that the US might take military action against Islamist militants in Nigeria if the authorities do not “do more” to prevent violence against Christian communities.
“Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace,” Trump said. “They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide, and I’m really angry about it. And we pay, you know, we give a lot of subsidies to Nigeria. We’re going to end up stopping.”
Nigeria has a long history of ethnoreligious violence affecting both Christians and Muslims, though claims that Christians are being specifically targeted have gained traction among right-wing circles in the US.
Trump’s remarks came a day after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, at the Pentagon to discuss what the Trump administration calls “horrific violence” against Christians.
“Under @POTUS leadership, DOW is working aggressively with Nigeria to end the persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists,” Hegseth posted on X, referring to the Department of Defence as “DOW” (“Department of War”).
A Pentagon statement said the meeting focused on “tangible progress” in tackling violence against Christians and combating jihadist groups in West Africa.
President Bola Tinubu, a Muslim married to a Christian pastor, has repeatedly rejected claims of religious persecution, stressing that his government is committed to protecting all citizens regardless of faith.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said.
Despite this, Trump and his allies continue to highlight the issue. Earlier this week, rapper Nicki Minaj appeared at the United Nations alongside US Ambassador Mike Waltz to echo the disputed claims.
Separately, Republican Representative Riley Moore of West Virginia met Ribadu in Washington on Wednesday as part of ongoing high-level talks between US officials and Nigeria’s security leadership.
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