By Tayo Mabeweje
As Washington amplifies its criticism of Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians, it is imperative for the United States to look inward before pointing fingers outward. While Donald Trump and his supporters posture as defenders of the Christian faith abroad, evidence within their own borders reveals a grim reality — America’s churches are increasingly under attack.
According to a comprehensive report by the Washington-based Family Research Council (FRC), no fewer than 415 Christian churches across the United States were attacked in 2024. Although marginally lower than the 485 incidents recorded in 2023, the figure remains disturbingly higher than any annual total between 2018 and 2022, signaling a deepening social and moral crisis.
The report classifies these incidents into categories such as vandalism, arson or attempted arson, gun-related assaults, bomb threats, and other physical or disruptive acts. A total of 383 churches were affected, more than 100 of which were Catholic, including cathedrals, shrines, and parish houses. California led the tally with 40 cases, followed by Pennsylvania (29), Florida (25), New York (25), Texas (23), Tennessee (19), and Ohio (19). Vandalism accounted for approximately 68% of the total attacks, with several churches being targeted repeatedly.
The FRC further noted that many of these assaults were ideologically or politically motivated, directed at churches based on their positions regarding human sexuality, morality, and social issues. Corroborating this, the FBI’s 2024 crime data confirmed that 24% of the 12,093 recorded hate crimes in the U.S. were religiously motivated — with 69% anti-Jewish, 8.7% anti-Islamic, and a measurable number anti-Christian. In light of such statistics, the United States cannot justifiably claim moral superiority in matters of religious tolerance while its own sanctuaries remain unsafe.
It is therefore disingenuous for Trump to project himself as a global guardian of Christianity. His recent pronouncements about “saving Christians in Nigeria” are less about compassion and more about geopolitical strategy. Beneath the rhetoric lies an attempt to pressure a sovereign African nation into compliance with U.S. foreign interests.
Nigeria’s consistent refusal to accept deportees from the United States has clearly unsettled Washington. Unlike several African countries — including Ghana, Angola, and South Sudan — which have conceded to U.S. repatriation requests, Nigeria has asserted its sovereign right to independent immigration policy. This act of defiance, coupled with Vice President Kashim Shettima’s open support for an Independent Palestine at the United Nations and Nigeria’s emerging partnership with the BRICS alliance, underscores Nigeria’s growing diplomatic autonomy. Such assertiveness is what truly provokes Washington, not alleged religious persecution.
No reasonable Nigerian denies the existence of insecurity within the country. The ongoing threats of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping have claimed countless lives across Plateau, Benue, Zamfara, Anambra, and Imo. Yet, to frame these tragedies as a deliberate, faith-based extermination of Christians is not only inaccurate but intellectually dishonest. The Nigerian government has never denied the loss of lives; it has only emphasized, truthfully, that these killings are not targeted exclusively at Christians. Victims cut across religious lines — Muslims and Christians alike — caught in the crossfire of criminality, extremism, and socio-political instability.
If America’s intent were truly humanitarian, it would provide technical, logistical, and intelligence support to help Nigeria combat terrorism, rather than exploit religious sentiment as an instrument of political coercion. The irony is that while Trump chastises Nigeria for “failing Christians,” churches in his own nation are desecrated, bombed, and vandalized with alarming frequency. A nation incapable of safeguarding its own altars has little moral right to sermonize about the sanctity of others.
Before America preaches virtue abroad, it must first confront its own moral disarray at home. The challenge before Washington is not to police the faith of other nations but to restore civility, tolerance, and security within its borders. Nigeria, despite its imperfections, deserves fairness and respect — not misrepresentation and condescension. No country possesses a monopoly on righteousness, and no leader should weaponize religion for diplomatic advantage.
Until the United States learns to protect its own churches and reconcile its internal contradictions, it lacks the moral authority to lecture Nigeria or any other nation on religious freedom.
Tayo Mabeweje
Public Relations Consultant & Political Commentator
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