United States President Donald Trump has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership in addressing terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, with particular reference to attacks on Christian communities.
The commendation was conveyed in a letter dated July 6, 2026, and made public on Wednesday through a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In the letter, President Trump praised Tinubu's efforts to confront the country's security challenges and reaffirmed the United States' commitment to supporting Nigeria's counter-terrorism operations. He disclosed that US Special Operations Forces, including Navy SEAL Team 6, have been deployed to train and support members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Trump described the US-Nigeria security partnership as historic and noted that both countries share a common objective of combating terrorism. He referenced the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap as the framework guiding ongoing military and intelligence collaboration between both nations.
According to the US President, the deployment is intended to strengthen the operational capacity of Nigerian security personnel by providing specialised training, intelligence support and the tools required to enhance national security and protect vulnerable communities.
He also expressed his willingness to continue engaging with President Tinubu on matters relating to security cooperation throughout his presidency.
Full Text of President Donald Trump's Letter to President Bola Tinubu
Dear Mr President,
Thank you for your thoughtful letter. Your kind words mean a great deal to me, and I appreciate your decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people. I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities, and it is a true honour to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous.
The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time when conflict has spread across West Africa and around the world. We both share a mutual goal of confronting terrorism in all its forms, and our historic US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap has established a robust framework to accomplish this feat.
I am proud to have deployed the United States Special Operations Forces—among the most elite military units anywhere in the world—to equip the brave men and women in the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the skills, tools and intelligence they need to protect your homeland and ensure the safety and security of citizens, particularly those of faith who have been under attack. I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Trump
President of the United States of America
