DAMNING Genocide Report Triggers White House Response

Multiple hands clasped together over an open book

House Republicans delivered a damning report to President Trump demanding action against what they term a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, calling for the repeal of Sharia law in twelve northern states.

Story Snapshot

Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) submitted a comprehensive report to the White House detailing systematic persecution of Christians in Nigeria’s Sharia-controlled northern states
House Resolution 866 passed Congress condemning the violence and pledging full support for decisive Trump administration action
The report demands Nigeria repeal Sharia and blasphemy laws that Republicans argue enable genocide against Christian communities
Trump’s February 2025 executive order on anti-Christian bias positions the administration to leverage foreign aid and diplomatic pressure

Congressional Republicans Sound Alarm on Religious Freedom Crisis

Representative Riley Moore of West Virginia spearheaded efforts to bring Nigeria’s Christian persecution crisis directly to President Trump’s attention through a detailed congressional report. The document characterizes ongoing violence against Christians in Nigeria’s twelve northern Sharia-governed states as genocide, demanding immediate repeal of religious laws that enable persecution. Moore serves as Vice Chair of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, giving him significant leverage over foreign aid decisions that could impact U.S.-Nigeria relations. The report arrives as House Resolution 866 cleared Congress, explicitly condemning the persecution and committing lawmakers to support decisive presidential action on international religious freedom.

Sharia Law Implementation Fuels Decades of Violence

Nigeria’s adoption of Sharia law in twelve northern states beginning in 2000 created parallel legal systems that Republicans identify as the structural foundation for Christian persecution. The implementation enabled enforcement of blasphemy laws and vigilante violence against Christian communities, contributing to an environment where extremist groups like Boko Haram have thrived since 2009. Thousands of Christians have been killed in church attacks and targeted violence, with millions displaced from their homes. The religious divide between Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north and Christian south has intensified under weak federal enforcement, allowing state-level Sharia systems to operate with minimal accountability. This represents exactly the kind of religious oppression that conservative Americans understand must be confronted.

Trump Administration Positioned to Apply Diplomatic Leverage

President Trump’s February 2025 executive order establishing a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias provides the policy framework for potential action on Nigeria. The order directs the State Department to review activities related to Christian persecution, both domestically and potentially abroad, giving the administration tools to address foreign religious freedom violations. With approximately one billion dollars in annual U.S. aid to Nigeria potentially at stake, congressional Republicans have significant financial leverage to demand policy changes. House Appropriations Committee leaders including Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) and Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) oversee foreign operations funding that could be conditioned on religious freedom reforms. This approach aligns perfectly with America First principles that foreign aid should advance U.S. values.

Resolution Signals Bipartisan Concern Over Genocide Accusations

House Resolution 866 represents more than symbolic congressional action, explicitly pledging support for President Trump to take decisive measures against Christian persecution in Nigeria. The resolution’s passage demonstrates growing frustration among lawmakers that previous administrations ignored systematic violence against religious minorities. Republicans frame the situation as genocide rather than mere sectarian conflict, raising the stakes for U.S. diplomatic response and potential sanctions. The congressional action coincided with Trump’s pardons of domestic pro-life Christians in January 2025, signaling a comprehensive administration focus on protecting religious liberty. Task force recommendations on addressing foreign enforcement gaps remain pending, but the groundwork for policy action has been established through both legislative and executive channels.

The Trump administration now faces pressure from its evangelical base and congressional allies to demonstrate that America will no longer tolerate persecution of Christians abroad. The convergence of House resolutions, direct congressional reports to the White House, and executive task force review creates multiple pathways for policy response. Whether through targeted sanctions, aid conditionality, or diplomatic pressure for Sharia law repeal, Republicans have positioned religious freedom as a non-negotiable element of U.S. foreign policy. This marks a decisive shift from the previous administration’s approach, which conservatives viewed as indifferent to attacks on Christian communities worldwide.