"Possibly — I mean, there are other options as well. I’m considering many things. They are killing Christians in record numbers in Nigeria, and we’re not going to allow that to continue," President Trump said on November 2 when asked whether he intended to send troops or launch airstrikes in Nigeria.
Daniel Bwala, spokesperson for Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, earlier stated that Nigeria welcomes U.S. assistance in its fight against terrorism, provided that the country's territorial integrity is respected. He emphasized that Abuja remains a partner of Washington in the global counterterrorism effort.
Bwala also hinted that a meeting between the two leaders could take place soon. “As for whether terrorists in Nigeria are targeting only Christians or attacking all faiths and even nonbelievers, these differing perspectives will be discussed and resolved when the two leaders meet in the coming days, either at the Nigerian Presidential Villa or the White House,” he said.
In a post on Truth Social on November 1, Trump threatened to end all aid and take military action in Nigeria to “eliminate the terrorists” killing Christians if the African nation allows the situation to persist.
The warning came a day after the U.S. returned Nigeria to its list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” which includes nations Washington accuses of violating religious freedom.
Spokesperson Bwala said Nigeria does not interpret Trump’s social media remarks literally. “We understand that Donald Trump has his own style of communication,” he said, implying that the post was intended to push both leaders toward a unified stance on addressing security instability.
Nigeria has repeatedly denied that Christians are being targeted more than followers of other faiths.
As Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria is home to more than 200 ethnic groups practicing Christianity, Islam, and indigenous beliefs. The country has long been plagued by violence driven by ethnic tensions, resource disputes, and extremist groups such as Boko Haram — violence that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, mostly among the Muslim population in the north.
Analysts say Trump’s statement, if acted upon, could significantly reshape U.S. policy in West Africa, where American forces withdrew from Niger last year and now maintain only a main base in Djibouti, East Africa.