Thirty-one members of the United States Congress have commended President Donald Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over what they described as widespread persecution and killings of Christians.
In a joint statement issued in Washington by House Values Action Team Chairman, Rep. Robert Aderholt, the lawmakers described Trump’s decision as a “bold and compassionate step” that offers renewed hope to millions of Christians facing violence in Nigeria.
According to them, the designation underscores America’s commitment to defending global religious freedom and confronting what they termed “a growing Christian genocide” in Africa’s most populous nation.
“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,”
— Rep. Robert Aderholt
The lawmakers called on the U.S. government to impose additional sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Nigerian authorities, accusing the government of failing to curb rising attacks on Christian communities.
Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, said reinstating the CPC status was “a powerful step forward in holding the Nigerian government accountable for its complicity in the unchecked murder, rape, and torture of Christians.”
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer also praised Trump’s leadership, 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 killings in Nigeria as “a moral outrage and a crime against humanity,” while Reps. Josh Brecheen, Mary Miller, Mark Alford, Don Bacon, Andy Biggs, Gus Bilirakis, and Tim Walberg joined calls for Washington to deploy “every diplomatic and strategic tool” to stop the violence.
Last week, President Trump reaffirmed the designation in a post on Truth Social, warning that the U.S. could cut aid or take military action if the killings persist.
“Christianity is facing 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.’ The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening. We are able and willing to defend Christians,” Trump wrote.
He also directed members of Congress, including Rep. Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, to “immediately look into this matter and report back.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has rejected the genocide characterization, insisting that the country’s constitution guarantees religious freedom and that ongoing security challenges affect both Christians and Muslims.
Trump’s latest move has, however, drawn widespread attention internationally, with Christian advocacy groups hailing it as a turning point for global action on religious persecution in Nigeria.