President Donald Trump warned that Christianity faces an "existential threat" in Nigeria, said he is redesignating the country a U.S. "Country of Particular Concern," and signaled the U.S. could halt aid and consider military options. His remarks drew praise from rapper Nicki Minaj.
President Donald Trump said Christianity faces an "existential threat" in Nigeria and announced he is placing the country back on the U.S. list of Countries of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations. Returning to Washington on Nov. 2, he told reporters aboard Air Force One that the United States could consider troops on the ground or airstrikes if the killings continue. In social media posts over the weekend, he also warned of cutting U.S. assistance and said any U.S. response would be swift. Reuters reported the Air Force One comments, and the U.S. religious freedom commission welcomed the CPC designation. (reuters.com)
Nigerian officials rejected the characterization. Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said state-backed religious persecution is “impossible” under Nigeria’s constitution and said Abuja would welcome U.S. help against extremists so long as Nigeria’s sovereignty is respected. (reuters.com)
The remarks came as the White House’s official TikTok account posted a clip featuring Trump and First Lady Melania Trump set to a viral remix of Nicki Minaj’s 2012 hit “Beez in the Trap.” Minaj commented “This is pretty incredible. Thank you,” and separately expressed “a deep sense of gratitude” for Trump’s pledge to stand up for persecuted Christians. Newsweek and People reported her public responses. (newsweek.com)
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz publicly thanked Minaj for drawing attention to the plight of Nigerian Christians. Waltz’s appointment as U.N. ambassador was confirmed by the Senate in September. (washingtonexaminer.com)
Context: Nigeria has faced overlapping violence from jihadist insurgents such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the northeast, along with banditry and farmer-herder clashes in other regions. Analysts cited by the Associated Press note that while Christians are among those targeted, most victims in the Muslim‑majority north are Muslims, and the pattern of violence does not meet the legal definition of genocide. The AP quoted Olajumoke Ayandele of NYU’s Center for Global Affairs: “If anything, what we are witnessing is mass killings, which are not targeted against a specific group.” (apnews.com)
Advocacy groups report that Nigeria remains the deadliest country for Christians. Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List estimates 4,476 Christians were killed worldwide for their faith in the most recent reporting year, including about 3,100 in Nigeria—down from roughly 4,118 recorded for Nigeria in the prior period but still far more than any other country. (These are advocacy estimates and are debated.) (christianitytoday.com)
Aid and prior U.S. support: U.S. foreign assistance commitments to Nigeria totaled about $922 million in FY2021, $974 million in FY2022, and $1.02 billion in FY2023, with about $903 million reported for FY2024—funding that is mostly humanitarian and economic, according to USAFacts’ compilation of federal data. Nigeria was also approved in 2017 to buy 12 A‑29 Super Tucano light‑attack aircraft, a package valued at about $593 million; deliveries began in 2021. The Obama administration had delayed the sale after a January 2017 Nigerian airstrike hit a displaced‑persons camp, before the deal proceeded under Trump. (usafacts.org)
Living conditions: A nationally led study supported by U.N. agencies found that 63% of Nigerians—about 133 million people—were multidimensionally poor as of 2022, reflecting deprivations in health, education, and living standards. (nigerianstat.gov.ng)
What’s next: Trump’s threats of aid suspension and potential military action raise diplomatic stakes between Washington and Abuja. The administration’s next steps are likely to be shaped by interagency legal reviews, consultations with Congress, and cooperation with Nigerian authorities against Boko Haram and ISWAP, an ISIS affiliate active around the Lake Chad Basin. (congress.gov)