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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to visit the United States on Tuesday for high-level diplomatic talks amid growing tensions over allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria and threats of possible U.S. military action by President Donald Trump.

Presidential sources confirmed to SaharaReporters on Sunday that Tinubu’s trip is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations with Washington. The visit comes just days after the U.S. President threatened to cut aid and potentially launch military intervention if attacks on Christians in Nigeria continue.

According to the report, President Trump has delegated his Vice President, James David (J.D.) Vance, to meet with President Tinubu during the visit, barring any last-minute changes.

Earlier reports indicated that both leaders were expected to meet either at the State House in Abuja or at the White House in Washington to deepen cooperation on counterterrorism and global security.

Daniel Bwala, Media Aide to President Tinubu, had previously stated that the two leaders share “a common vision” in combating terrorism and protecting humanity from violent extremism.

“Both President @officialABAT and President @realDonaldTrump have a shared interest in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity,” Bwala said.

He added that the Trump administration had provided significant support to Nigeria’s security operations by authorizing the sale of arms, which the Tinubu government has effectively utilized in the ongoing battle against terrorism.

Bwala also noted that any perceived differences between both leaders—especially concerning whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or people of all faiths—would be discussed and resolved during the upcoming engagement.

Meanwhile, President Trump had issued a stern warning to the Nigerian government over what he described as “the killing of Christians” in the country.

“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump declared, directing the U.S. Department of War to prepare for possible action.

In response, the Nigerian Presidency issued a statement denying any ongoing genocide, emphasizing that Nigeria’s constitution protects freedom of religion and guarantees equality for all faiths.

“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu said, adding that his administration has maintained open engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders to address security challenges across the nation.

He dismissed what he described as a “mischaracterisation” of Nigeria’s religious situation by foreign observers, insisting 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 consider the consistent efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and belief for all Nigerians,” Tinubu stated.

The President reaffirmed that religious tolerance remains central to Nigeria’s national identity, stressing that his administration neither supports nor condones any form of persecution based on faith.

“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it,” he said.

Tinubu added that his government would continue to collaborate with the United States and the international community to promote understanding and protect all religious communities.

“Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on the protection of communities of all faiths,” he said.

The visit marks President Tinubu’s first U.S. trip since tensions escalated over reports of Christian-targeted violence and growing international concern about Nigeria’s security situation.