'Christianity Facing Existential Threat': Trump's Remark Sparks Rebuttal From Nigerian Govt

Last Updated:November 06, 2025, 09:14 IST

Donald Trump has warned that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria and hinted at possible US military action, accusing “radical Islamists” of killing Christians.

US president Donald Trump (Image: X/@WhiteHouse)

US President Donald Trump has reignited controversy over Nigeria’s security situation, claiming that Christianity is under “existential threat" in the country and warning that Washington “cannot stand by" amid what he described as ongoing atrocities.

In a statement, posted by the White House on Wednesday, Trump said, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening there, and in numerous other countries."

“We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!" he added.

His latest remarks follow similar comments made last Friday, when he alleged that “thousands of Christians are being killed" in Nigeria and blamed “radical Islamists" for what he called a “mass slaughter."

Trump further announced that he was naming Nigeria a “country of particular concern," a designation the US reserves for nations accused of “severe violations of religious freedom."

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria," Trump said in his earlier post.

“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter," he added.

However, Nigeria’s government swiftly rejected the accusations and the renewed US designation, calling them baseless and politically motivated.

Information Minister Mohammed Idris said at a press briefing in Abuja that Trump’s threats of military action were “unwarranted" and “misrepresented Nigeria’s complex security challenges."

“Any narrative suggesting that the Nigerian State is failing to take action against religious attacks is based on misinformation or faulty data," Idris said.

He emphasised that terrorism in Nigeria affects both Christians and Muslims and that the Tinubu administration has made “significant progress" in tackling extremist violence.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, also dismissed Trump’s characterisations, saying the country “faces terrorism, not persecution of Christians."

The presidency noted it remains open to US cooperation in fighting Islamist insurgents, provided Nigeria’s territorial integrity is respected.

Idris added, “The Government of Nigeria remains open and willing to work closely with the Government of the United States, other friendly nations and partners, to achieve our shared goal, the complete elimination of terrorism on Nigerian soil."

On Saturday, Trump said that he asked the Pentagon to map out a possible plan of attack in Nigeria, one day after warning that Christianity was “facing an existential threat" in Africa’s most populous country.

A day later, Trump repeated his threat of a military operation in Nigeria over the killings of Christians, after the Nigerian presidency suggested a meeting to resolve the issue.

Asked by an AFP reporter aboard Air Force One if he was considering US troops on the ground in Nigeria or air strikes, Trump replied by saying, “Could be, I mean, a lot of things, I envisage a lot of things."

“They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen," he added.

Nigeria, which is almost evenly divided between a Muslim-majority north and a largely Christian south, is embroiled in numerous conflicts that experts say have killed both Christians and Muslims without distinction.

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