Washington, United States – US President Donald Trump threatened a possible military attack on Nigeria, accusing the African government of allowing Christians to be killed by “radical Islamists,” in controversial remarks posted on social media.
Threat to send the army “with all weapons”
Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, threatened to send the U.S. military to Nigeria “with all weapons” if the Nigerian government did not take immediate action to stop what he called a “mass slaughter” of Christians.
Trump said in his post: “If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the United States will immediately cease all aid and support to Nigeria and may go into that now-disgraced country, ‘guns blazing,’ to totally wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
Trump added that he had instructed the Department of Defense (the Pentagon) to “prepare for any possible action,” warning that any attack would be “swift, brutal, and bloody.” Pentagon chief Pete Higgseth shared the post and commented, “Yes, sir,” confirming their readiness to act.
Fueling claims of an “existential threat”
These threats come one day after Trump warned that Christianity “faces an existential threat in Nigeria,” echoing claims by other Republican politicians, including Senator Ted Cruz and Congressman Chris Smith, who previously called for Nigeria to be listed as a “country of particular concern” for violating religious freedoms.
On Friday, Trump claimed that “thousands of Christians are being killed” and that “radical Islamists are responsible,” without providing any evidence.
Nigeria rejects the allegations
For his part, Nigerian President Bola Ahmad Tinubu rejected these claims, stressing that describing Nigeria as “religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality.”
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been and always will be a fundamental principle of our collective identity,” Tinobo said on social media.
