WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to the relentless persecution of Christians conducted by “radical Islamist” terrorists.
The designation, which the president announced as he arrived at Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, means that Nigeria has engaged in “severe violations of religious freedom” under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” the president said in a post on Truth Social. “Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.”
“I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ — But that is the least of it,” he continued. “When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done! I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter, and report back to me.”
US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport on October 31, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump is spending the weekend at his Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries,” the president added. “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”
Congressman Riley Moore of West Virginia and Tom Cole of Oklahoma did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Wire, but in a post on X, Moore thanked the president for the designation.
“You have always been a champion for Christians around the world, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with you and Chairman Cole @houseappropsgop to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being slaughtered by radical Islamists in Nigeria,” the West Virginia congressman said.
Other countries of particular concern include Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
Nigeria was formerly designated a CPC under the first Trump administration. Under President Joe Biden’s administration, Secretary of State Antony Blinken had determined that Nigeria was not a CPC, despite pleas from religious freedom advocates to recognize severe violations of religious freedom.