In a message posted to Truth Social on Saturday, President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum, stating the U.S. military may go into Nigeria "guns-a-blazing" to attack Islamic terrorists for the "killing of Christians" if the West African nation does not deal with them.
Newsweek reached out to the White House by email outside of normal business hours for clarification and comment.
Why It Matters
Trump has highlighted concerns about the safety of Christians in Nigeria, which has long faced suggestions by some U.S. evangelical Christian groups and politicians that a deliberate campaign of extermination is taking place against Nigeria’s Christian population.
During his first administration, Trump placed Nigeria on the U.S. religious freedom watchlist, but former President Joe Biden lifted that designation during his administration.
On Friday, Trump announced his intent to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” for religious freedom violations, which would allow the U.S. to institute punitive measures and sanctions on the country, such as restricting non-humanitarian aid.
What To Know
Trump has posted on Truth Social multiple times about Nigeria, increasing the intensity of his comments and actions he intends to take against Nigeria, starting with the designation as a "country of particular concern" and escalating to threats against aid and potential military action.
"If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will 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," Trump wrote. "I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. 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 entered office for his second term promising to end wars in Gaza and Ukraine and positioning himself as an anti-war president who wants to keep America out of further foreign conflicts.
Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s foreign ministry, previously said that his country has “noted” the U.S. statement on religious freedom, but denies that there is any mass slaughter of Christians in Nigeria.
“We remain committed in our resolve to tackle the violent extremism that is fueled by special interests who have helped drive such decay and division in countries across the intersecting West African and Sahel regions," Ebienfa said. “The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion. Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength. Nigeria is a God-fearing country where we respect faith, tolerance, diversity and inclusion, in concurrence with the rules-based international order."
What People Are Saying
Nigerian Senator Shehu Sani wrote on X, in part: "I understand that Nigeria is among the 12 countries designated as one of particular Concern. The designation of Nigeria is founded on outright falsehoods and wholesale misinformation. Terrorists and bandits in Nigeria kill and kidnap their victims irrespective of their religious beliefs.
Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, in a statement issued on Friday, in part: "I am deeply gratified to President Trump for making this determination. I have fought for years to counter the slaughter and persecution of Christians in Nigeria, and this year introduced legislation that will lock in the designation made today. Today’s designation is a critical step in holding accountable and changing the behavior of Nigerian officials who have facilitated and created an environment conducive to the outrages in Nigeria."
Update 11/1/25, 6:24 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional content, comment, and context.
