Trump Threatens Aid Cut, Military Action Against Nigeria

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the United States will immediately stop all aid to Nigeria and has instructed the Defense Department to 'prepare for possible action,' saying U.S. forces may go into the country 'guns-a-blazing' to 'completely wipe out' Islamist militants he blames for killings of Christians. He designated Nigeria a 'country of particular concern' for religious freedom, called Christianity in Nigeria an 'existential threat,' and cited mass killings and village attacks by groups such as Boko Haram. Trump asked Congress to investigate reports of persecution; his comments drew praise from some allies and mixed domestic reaction. Nigeria’s government, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and senior ministers, pushed back, saying the designation 'does not reflect our national reality' and stressing efforts to combat violent extremism. Observers say Nigeria is roughly evenly split between Christians and Muslims, watchdogs report thousands killed and tens of thousands displaced, and the U.S. has provided about $1 billion in recent assistance—facts that raise diplomatic, legal and humanitarian questions about threats of unilateral U.S. military action.