In a move that has sent ripples through diplomatic circles and faith communities alike, President Donald Trump has placed Nigeria on a religious freedom watch list and threatened military action if the West African nation’s government does not act swiftly to curb violence against Christians. The announcement, made on October 31, 2025, and followed by a series of escalating statements, has drawn both praise and sharp condemnation from U.S. lawmakers, international watchdogs, and Nigerian officials.
Trump’s initial declaration came via his social media platform, Truth Social, where he asserted, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria.” He claimed that “thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.” The president’s remarks came amid ongoing attacks by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and persistent clashes between farmers and herders—conflicts often rooted in resource scarcity and land competition, rather than purely religious animus.
On November 1, Trump raised the stakes, warning that unless Nigeria’s government “move[s] fast” to address the violence, the United States would “immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.” He directed the Department of Defense, which he referred to as the “Department of War,” to “prepare for possible action,” adding, “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”
Trump’s comments were not limited to threats. He announced plans to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” (CPC), a status reserved by the State Department for nations or entities that carry out systemic religious freedom violations. Under the International Religious Freedom Act, this designation requires Congress to be notified and, typically, the imposition of economic measures if non-economic options have been exhausted.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill reacted swiftly. On November 4, 2025, Congressman Gregory Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sara Jacobs, ranking member of the Africa Subcommittee, issued a joint statement denouncing Trump’s rhetoric as “irresponsible and reckless.” According to their statement, “The Trump administration’s designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ ignores the complex reality of violence there. Clashes between farmers, many, but not all, of whom are Christian and herders are driven by resource scarcity and land competition, not religion alone.”
The lawmakers emphasized that extremist and criminal violence in Nigeria has affected both Christians and Muslims, particularly in the country’s northern region, which continues to face attacks by armed groups known as bandits. “All Nigerians deserve protection, and we know President Tinubu recognises the importance of interfaith harmony and is working to address this challenge,” they added.
Meeks and Jacobs also warned that Trump’s vow to “defend Christians” through military means could inflame tensions and destabilize ongoing diplomatic efforts. “It is incredibly irresponsible of President Trump to threaten military action. Providing security support is one thing; threatening military intervention is another matter entirely. Such rhetoric risks embroiling the United States in another needless war,” they stated. The lawmakers further cautioned that any attempt to cut off U.S. aid to Nigeria would have grave humanitarian consequences, undermining ongoing development and stabilization programs. “Trump’s aid cuts have blocked much-needed emergency nutrition and livelihoods training—the very types of programs essential to stopping the spread of insurgency,” their statement noted.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria responded on November 1, 2025, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to defend his country’s record. “Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu wrote. “Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.” Tinubu argued that the characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant “does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.”
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal entity established by Congress, welcomed Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a CPC. Vicky Hartzler, chair of USCIRF, stated, “USCIRF applauds President Trump for speaking out on the religious freedom crisis in Nigeria and making Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern.” Hartzler urged the U.S. government to “develop a tough plan with Nigeria to ensure that perpetrators of violence are held to account, people of faith are protected, and those held hostage are rescued.”
USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood added, “In addition to the tragic violence at the hands of nonstate actors, the United States must also hold the Nigerian government accountable for allowing the enforcement of blasphemy laws in 12 states.” Mahmood argued that tolerating violence targeting Christians, Muslims, and other communities “justify the CPC designation, now the administration can use this opportunity to impose Presidential Actions under the International Religious Freedom Act to incentivize needed change in the country.”
Support for Trump’s move was not limited to government officials. Rapper Nicki Minaj, in a post on X on November 4, 2025, said, “No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion.” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz responded, inviting Minaj to visit the UN—a sign of how the debate has spilled into popular culture.
Meanwhile, Reps. Riley Moore of West Virginia and Tom Cole of Oklahoma, both cited by Trump as allies in this initiative, have called for further investigation into religious violence in Nigeria. Cole, as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Moore, a committee member, are among those pushing for increased funding for religious freedom programs.
According to OSV News, the International Religious Freedom Act requires the U.S. government to annually review and designate countries where religious freedom is under threat. Once a country is named a CPC, Congress must be notified, and economic measures are typically considered if diplomatic efforts fail. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has long advocated for Nigeria’s inclusion on this list, citing both state and non-state actors as culprits in ongoing violence.
Yet, the situation in Nigeria is anything but simple. The country, with a population of about 237 million, is nearly evenly split between Muslims and Christians. While violence against Christian communities by extremist groups like Boko Haram has intensified in recent years, Muslim communities have also suffered grave losses. Disputes between farmers and herders—sometimes painted as religious conflict—are often driven by economic and environmental pressures rather than faith alone.
This latest episode has reignited debate in Washington and Abuja about how best to respond to Nigeria’s security crisis. Some see Trump’s hardline stance as overdue recognition of religious persecution, while others warn it risks oversimplifying a multifaceted conflict and undermining years of diplomatic engagement. As the world watches, the future of U.S.–Nigeria relations—and the fate of millions vulnerable to violence—hangs in the balance.
