31 US lawmakers praise Trump for reinstating Nigeria’s religious freedom watchlist status

Thirty-one members of the United States Congress have commended President Donald Trump for reinstating Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), a status assigned to nations accused of severe violations of religious freedom.

The lawmakers described Trump’s decision as a “bold and moral step” to confront what they termed a growing Christian genocide in Africa’s most populous nation.

The commendation was contained in a joint statement issued on Tuesday by Rep. Robert Aderholt, Chairman of the House Values Action Team, and made available to journalists on Thursday.

In the statement, Aderholt said the move rekindled hope among Nigeria’s Christian population and reaffirmed America’s global commitment to defending freedom of worship.

“President Trump’s commitment to ending the Christian genocide in Nigeria and his decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern gives hope to the people of Nigeria,” he stated.

He added that terrorist groups in Nigeria had killed thousands of Christians annually, stressing that the United States “must lead the charge” in confronting such violence and protecting vulnerable religious communities.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer hailed Trump’s stance, describing him as “a leader unafraid to defend people of faith.”

“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,” Emmer said.

Republican Party Chair Lisa McClain also described the situation in Nigeria as “a moral outrage and a crime against humanity,” while Representatives Josh Brecheen, Mary Miller, and Mark Alford expressed support for tougher sanctions and increased U.S. pressure on those behind religious attacks.

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Rep. Chris Smith, said the move restored a 2020 designation that was “wrongly lifted by the Biden administration.”

“This action is a powerful step in holding the Nigerian government accountable for its complicity in the unchecked murder, rape, and torture of Christians,” Smith said.

Other lawmakers, including Don Bacon, Andy Biggs, Gus Bilirakis, and Tim Walberg, echoed similar sentiments, urging the White House to deploy “every diplomatic and strategic tool” to protect Nigerian Christians and ensure accountability.

Last Friday, President Trump announced the CPC redesignation on his Truth Social platform, saying that Christianity faced an “existential threat” in Nigeria.

“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’” Trump wrote.

He warned that Washington would not “stand by while such atrocities are happening” and vowed that his administration would “stand ready, willing, and able to defend Christian populations around the world.”

Rep. Riley Moore, one of the lawmakers who first raised the issue in Congress, said Trump’s decision reflected “true leadership and moral clarity.”

“We can no longer turn a blind eye to the bloodshed of our brothers and sisters in Christ. This horrible persecution will end thanks to President Trump,” Moore added.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has consistently rejected Washington’s claims of religious persecution, insisting that religion is not a factor in the country’s security challenges.

Recall that Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday that the U.S. position stemmed from “misrepresentation and misinformation” about Nigeria’s internal security dynamics.

“Our security issues are driven by banditry, insurgency, and socio-economic factors, not religion,” Idris clarified.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom, stating that the country remains a constitutional democracy guided by guarantees of liberty and equality for all faiths.

“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty. Since 2023, our administration has maintained open engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders while tackling security challenges that affect citizens across faiths and regions.”

He added that portraying Nigeria as religiously intolerant “does not reflect our national reality,” stating that tolerance and peaceful coexistence “remain central to the Nigerian identity.”