In a notable shift from his previous statements, former U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged for the first time that Muslims are also victims of the ongoing violence in Nigeria, while maintaining that Christians are the primary target.
Trump, who has consistently framed Nigeria’s insecurity as a targeted campaign against Christians, made the concession during an interview with The New York Times.
“I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians,” he was quoted as saying.
This marks a significant departure from his rhetoric beginning in late October, when he warned that Christianity faced an “existential threat” in Nigeria and threatened military intervention over what he described as the government’s failure to protect Christian communities. At that time, he reaffirmed Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
When pressed on the fact that his own Africa adviser has stated that militant groups like Islamic State and Boko Haram kill more Muslims than Christians, Trump reiterated his qualified position: “I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians.”
The comments follow a period of heightened diplomatic activity between the two nations. After Trump’s initial threats, the Nigerian Federal Government dispatched a high-powered delegation to the United States to brief officials on the security situation. This was followed by a visit to Nigeria by top American officials for first-hand assessments.
On the topic of potential U.S. military action, Trump referenced the Christmas Day airstrikes on terror targets in Nigeria and suggested more could follow. “I’d love to make it a one-time strike … But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike,” he told the Times.
The Nigerian government has consistently maintained that the violence perpetrated by insurgents and armed groups is not sectarian in nature but a threat to all citizens, regardless of religion.
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