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President Tinubu is set to visit U.S. Tuesday, to meet Donald Trump’s Vice, JD Vance
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The visit follows U.S. President Trump’s military threat over alleged Christian killings in Nigeria
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Trump reportedly delegates his Vice, JD Vance, to receive Tinubu in Washington
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to visit the United States on Tuesday for high-level diplomatic talks amid heightened tension following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of military action against Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
Presidential sources confirmed to SaharaReporters on Sunday that the visit is aimed at engaging the U.S. government on security and bilateral cooperation.
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According to the report, President Trump has delegated his Vice President, James David Vance, to meet with President Tinubu during the visit, barring any last-minute changes.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Tinubu and Trump were expected to hold talks either at the State House in Abuja or the White House in Washington to deepen cooperation on counterterrorism and global security.
In a statement signed by Mr. Daniel Bwala, Media Aide to President Tinubu, the Nigerian leader and Trump share a common vision in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
“Both President @officialABAT and President @realDonaldTrump have shared interest in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity,” Bwala said.
He further noted that the Trump administration had previously supported Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts through the sale of arms and military equipment — a policy President Tinubu has since expanded upon.
“President Trump assisted Nigeria a lot by authorising the sale of arms, and President Tinubu has effectively utilised that opportunity in the fight against terrorism,” he added.
Bwala also stated that any perceived disagreement between both leaders regarding the religious nature of terror attacks in Nigeria would be addressed during the upcoming meeting.
“As for the differences as to whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or all faiths, such matters will be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet,” he said.
The scheduled visit follows remarks by President Trump warning that the United States may deploy its military to Nigeria if the alleged killing of Christians continues.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and may go into that country guns-a-blazing,” Trump said in a statement.
The Nigerian Presidency, however, dismissed the allegations, insisting that there is no Christian genocide in the country.
President Tinubu reaffirmed that Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees religious freedom and that his administration continues to engage both Christian and Muslim leaders to strengthen national unity.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” the President said.
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“Since 2023, our administration has maintained active engagement with religious leaders while addressing security challenges that affect citizens of all faiths,” he added.
Tinubu criticised what he described as an unfair characterisation of Nigeria’s religious climate by external observers, stating that such claims do not reflect the country’s reality.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it recognise our consistent efforts to promote freedom of religion,” he stated.
The President reaffirmed that religious tolerance remains central to Nigeria’s identity and that his government does not condone persecution based on faith.
“Religious freedom and tolerance are core values of our national identity. Nigeria opposes and does not encourage religious persecution,” Tinubu affirmed.
He concluded that his administration would continue to collaborate with international partners, including the United States, to foster understanding and ensure the protection of all communities.
