TL;DR: President Trump declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern” for severe Christian persecution, vowing U.S. action to protect Christians globally amid escalating Islamist violence.
What Happened
- On October 31, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that the United States has designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
- Trump said on Truth Social, “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria… We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World.”
- He cited reports of 3,100 Christians killed in Nigeria this year out of 4,476 globally, attributing the violence to “radical Islamists.”
- The President directed Congressman Riley Moore, House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, and their committee to investigate the crisis and report back.
Background
- Attacks by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani herder militants have targeted churches and villages, killing thousands and destroying more than 20,000 churches since 2009.
- Nigeria, with 220 million people split evenly between Christians and Muslims, has faced overlapping religious, ethnic, and resource conflicts.
- The country was first added to the U.S. watch list in 2020 under Trump’s first term and later removed in 2023.
Reactions
- Christian advocacy groups and U.S. lawmakers praised Trump’s announcement as a strong stance for global religious freedom.
- Nigeria’s government rejected claims of systematic Christian persecution, calling such narratives “very misleading.”
- Analysts warned the move could strain U.S.-Nigeria relations or affect counterterrorism cooperation.
Global Context
- Advocacy group Open Doors estimates Nigeria accounted for nearly 70 percent of Christians killed worldwide for their faith last year.
- Trump’s remarks signal a renewed U.S. commitment to defending Christian minorities globally, expanding beyond Nigeria to other regions facing persecution.