US President Donald Trump has hinted that Washington could deploy troops or launch air strikes in Nigeria to halt what he called the “mass killing of Christians” in the African nation. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his return to Washington, Trump said, “They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria… We’re not going to allow that to happen.”
His remarks came just a day after the US reinstated Nigeria on its list of “Countries of Particular Concern” over alleged violations of religious freedoms alongside nations like China, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan. Trump had earlier threatened military action if Nigeria’s government failed to curb the violence.
Reacting to his statement, Nigerian presidential adviser Daniel Bwala said Abuja welcomed American assistance as long as it respected Nigeria’s sovereignty. “We recognise the US as a strong partner in the fight against terrorism, but we must preserve our territorial integrity,” Bwala told Reuters. He dismissed Trump’s harsh comments as political rhetoric, adding, “There is no Christian genocide. Nigeria fights insecurity without discrimination.”
Nigeria, a country of over 200 million people divided between the Muslim north and Christian south, has long battled Islamist insurgents like Boko Haram and Daesh affiliated militants, who have killed thousands in the northeast. Experts note that while Christians have suffered, most victims of extremist attacks have been Muslims.
In central regions, recurring clashes between Muslim herders and Christian farmers over land and water have worsened tensions, while in the northwest, armed gangs continue kidnapping residents for ransom.
Meanwhile, Trump also addressed questions about Ukraine, clarifying that he is not seriously considering providing Kyiv with long-range Tomahawk missiles, which could strike deep inside Russia. “No, not really,” he said when asked if the US might send them. Moscow had earlier warned that such a move would mark a major escalation.
Trump further confirmed he will not attend the US Supreme Court’s upcoming hearings on the legality of his global tariffs. “I wanted to go so badly,” he said, “but I don’t want to distract from the importance of that decision it’s about our country, not me.”
The hearing will test one of Trump’s boldest uses of executive power under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. He defended his tariffs as essential for national security, saying they had boosted US revenues and protected the nation from years of trade abuse. “If we don’t have tariffs, we don’t have national security,” he asserted.
