President Donald Trump has, for the first time, said Muslims are also among the victims of Nigeria’s violence, marking a noticeable tweak to his long-running claim that the bloodshed is mainly aimed at Christians.
Speaking to the New York Times, Trump allowed that “Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians.” The comment came after analysts pointed out that outfits such as Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa kill far more Muslims than Christians.
Asked about the 25 December U.S. airstrikes on militant camps inside Nigeria, Trump said Washington is ready to hit even harder. He framed the stepped-up raids as part of an effort to shield religious communities—singling out Christian enclaves—from further attacks.
Background: A Strained Diplomacy
The relationship between Washington and Abuja has grown increasingly tense since late October, when Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern.” He has frequently described the situation as an “existential threat” to Christianity and criticized the Nigerian Federal Government’s perceived inability to curb the violence.
In response to these labels, the Nigerian government recently dispatched a high-powered delegation to Washington to present a comprehensive security report. This was followed by a reciprocal visit from top American officials to Nigeria to conduct a first-hand assessment of the conflict zones.
While the President’s latest comments acknowledge the broader scope of the tragedy, his administration’s policy remains firmly anchored in the protection of Christian communities as a condition for U.S. military restraint.
