US Lawmakers Applaud Trump For Designating Nigeria As ‘Country Of Particular Concern’

Thirty-one members of the United States Congress have praised former President Donald Trump for designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over what they described as the persecution of Christians.

The commendation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by House Values Action Team Chairman, Rep. Robert Aderholt, and seen by PUNCH Online on Thursday.

The lawmakers said the move was a “necessary step” to confront what they called a “growing Christian genocide” in Nigeria.

“President Trump’s commitment to end the Christian genocide in Nigeria and his designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern gives hope to the people of Nigeria. This persecution of Christians must end,” Aderholt stated.

He further alleged that terrorist groups in Nigeria had “killed thousands of believers annually,” urging the U.S. to lead global efforts to confront the violence.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer commended Trump’s decision, saying, “God bless President Trump for standing up and protecting Christians around the globe. The United States finally has a leader unafraid to do what’s right.”

GOP Chair Lisa McClain described the situation in Nigeria as “a moral outrage and a crime against humanity,” while Reps. Josh Brecheen, Mary Miller, and Mark Alford expressed support for sanctions and stronger diplomatic action against perpetrators of religious attacks.

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, Rep. Chris Smith, said the reinstatement of the 2020 CPC designation — which was lifted under President Joe Biden  was “a powerful step forward in holding the Nigerian government accountable for its complicity in the unchecked murder, rape, and torture of Christians.”

Other lawmakers, including Don Bacon, Andy Biggs, Gus Bilirakis, and Tim Walberg, echoed similar sentiments, urging Washington to use “every diplomatic and strategic tool” to ensure accountability and protect Nigeria’s Christian communities.

Trump had earlier posted on his Truth Social platform that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” blaming “radical Islamists” for the killings.

“I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern,’” Trump wrote, vowing that the U.S. “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening.”

Rep. Riley Moore, who reportedly presented the matter before Congress, also lauded Trump’s decision, calling it “a demonstration of strong leadership and commitment to protecting persecuted Christians.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed the U.S. position, describing it as based on “misrepresentation and misinformation.”

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said in a press briefing on Wednesday that the allegations stemmed from a “flawed understanding of Nigeria’s security realities.”

President Bola Tinubu also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom, saying the country “stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.”

According to Tinubu, the portrayal of Nigeria as religiously intolerant “does not reflect our national reality,” adding that both Christian and Muslim leaders are being actively engaged to address security challenges across all regions.