US President Donald Trump publicly recognised Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, during remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, commending her religious leadership and influence in faith circles.
The annual gathering, which brings together members of the US Congress, clergy and international dignitaries, saw Trump draw attention to Tinubu’s presence while speaking on faith and the protection of religious freedoms worldwide.
Addressing the audience, Trump described the Nigerian First Lady as a respected figure in Christian ministry. He invited her to stand for recognition, thanking her and noting her pastoral role in one of Nigeria’s largest churches.
Mrs Tinubu is an ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, a prominent Pentecostal denomination with a large following in Nigeria and abroad.
Trump’s comments come amid renewed international debate over Nigeria’s security climate, following assertions by the US president and some American lawmakers that Christians in the country face persistent violence.
In late 2025, Trump listed Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged attacks on Christians, a designation the Nigerian government strongly disputed, describing the claims as misleading and potentially divisive.
Federal authorities have repeatedly stated that the nation’s security issues stem from terrorism and criminal activity that affect people across religious lines, maintaining that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of worship for both Muslims and Christians.
