“Why Are You Killing Christians in Nigeria?” — What Trump Told Buhari During 2018 White House Meeting

Former U.S. President Donald Trump once confronted Nigeria’s then-President Muhammadu Buhari over the killings of Christians during a bilateral meeting at the White House in 2018, describing the situation as “unacceptable.”

According to reports, Trump opened the meeting with a stern warning, saying:

“They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria. They’re killing Christians in very large numbers. I will not allow that to continue.”

The meeting, held on April 30, 2018, was initially aimed at strengthening the U.S.–Nigeria strategic partnership, focusing on economic growth, security cooperation, and counterterrorism efforts.

However, Trump’s tone changed dramatically when Buhari entered the room. With a sharp look, Trump reportedly asked:

“Why are you killing Christians in Nigeria?”

He went on to emphasize that the U.S. would not tolerate religious persecution, warning:

“We’ve declared Nigeria a country of particular concern because of the horrible killings of Christians. Radical Islamic terrorists are responsible for this mass slaughter. Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. If the Nigerian government continues to permit the slaughter of Christians, the United States will promptly halt all aid and support to Nigeria.”

Despite his strong words, Trump pledged that the U.S. would work closely with Nigeria to address the issue and promote peace.

During the meeting, Buhari thanked Trump for the sale of military aircraft and training assistance in the fight against Boko Haram and ISIS-affiliated terrorists, contrasting Trump’s cooperation with the Obama administration’s earlier refusal to sell arms to Nigeria.

Buhari also assured the U.S. president that Nigeria was doing everything possible to curb violence but noted that the conflict was complex, involving ethnic, religious, and economic dimensions.

At the time, Christian communities in Benue, Plateau, Borno, and Yobe states had suffered repeated attacks, allegedly by terrorist groups disguised as herdsmen, sparking accusations that Buhari’s administration was indifferent to Christian casualties.

The tensions deepened after Buhari told displaced residents of Benue to “learn to accommodate their neighbours,” a remark widely criticized as insensitive amid the mounting death toll.

Despite the controversy, the meeting produced several positive outcomes, including U.S. support for the repatriation of $500 million in looted Nigerian funds and talks on a $2 billion U.S.-backed rail project.

Opinion Nigeria News