CLAIM: A screenshot shows Trump criticising Tinubu’s state visit as government incompetence and insensitivity in response to the Maiduguri bombings.

VERDICT: False. The post is fabricated and did not come from Donald Trump.

FULL STORY

A screenshot circulating on social media claims that former U.S. President Donald Trump criticised the Nigerian government as “insensitive” following a recent bombing in Maiduguri, Borno State, and the president’s state visit to the United Kingdom. The post is presented as an official statement from Trump.

Several social media users have circulated the screenshot across all platforms. The statement in the screenshot reads:

The situation in Nigeria is a TOTAL DISASTER. Massive, coordinated suicide bombings in Maiduguri. A hospital, a major market, the post office all hit! Many innocent people killed. This is what happens when you have no leadership and open borders for terrorists! While his country is in a state of m=national emergency, President Tinubu is currently o=in the Uk on a state visit. Unbelievable! Shaking hands and having fancy dinners while his people are being blown up? I don’t think so! Prime Minister Starmer should tell him to get on a plane and GO HOME IMMEDIATELY. You don’t stay abroad during a crisis like this. A real leader is on the ground with the military and the people, not cutting ribbons in London. Nigeria is a great country with wonderful people, but they are being let down by a government that isn’t focused on STRENGTH and SECURITY. Close the borders, find the terrorists, and PROTECT YOUR CITIZENS. Everything else can wait. TRUTH!

The said screenshot can be seen to have generated 41,700 likes, 14,200 reshares and 4800 comments.

 The UK State Visit

On Wednesday, President Tinubu proceeded on a state visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla.

This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to him, the President will travel with the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and other members of his cabinet to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and the UK, particularly in immigration, trade, investment, and cultural exchange. Onanuga said the British monarch would host the Nigerian leader and his wife at Windsor Castle from March 18 to March 19 to view a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection relating to Nigeria.

No Record of the Statement

A review of Trump’s verified communication channels, including his Truth Social account and major international media coverage, shows no record of the alleged statement.

Given Mr Trump’s international prominence, any statement associating a security incident in Nigeria with a diplomatic visit to the United Kingdom would have been extensively covered by reputable news organisations. However, no such coverage is available. This lack of reporting strongly suggests that the claim does not originate from an official or credible source.

Trump’s Past Comments on Nigeria

While the viral claim is false, Trump has previously made controversial remarks about insecurity in Nigeria.

In late 2025, he publicly threatened possible U.S. military action, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from extremist violence. He went as far as suggesting that the United States could intervene militarily if the situation did not improve, framing the crisis largely in religious terms.

These claims were widely disputed by Nigerian authorities and international observers, who emphasised that violence in Nigeria affects multiple communities and is driven by complex factors beyond religion. Trump later followed through on his rhetoric by approving U.S. airstrikes against suspected extremist targets in northern Nigeria in December 2025, in coordination with Nigerian authorities.

Despite these actions, his statements have typically focused on security intervention and religious persecution narratives, not diplomatic commentary tied to unrelated events like foreign visits.

The Maiduguri Context

Recent attacks in Maiduguri highlight the ongoing insecurity in northeastern Nigeria, where groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP remain active.

Reports show that suicide bombings and coordinated attacks continue to pose threats despite years of military operations.

These incidents often trigger waves of misinformation online, including recycled images, false claims, and fabricated statements attributed to prominent figures.

Several indicators suggest the viral screenshot is not authentic:

The screenshot has no credible source attribution. The claim appears only on social media and is not backed by any recognised news platform.

The alleged statement links two unrelated events, a UK state visit and a bombing in Maiduguri, in a way that does not reflect how official statements are typically structured. The wording in the screenshot does not match Trump’s known communication style when using Truth Social. The screenshot instead is presented like it’s from X.

Moments of crisis, such as attacks in Borno State, often create an environment where false claims thrive.

Fabricated statements attributed to high-profile figures like Trump are used to amplify public outrage, create diplomatic tension narratives, and reinforce political bias.

In many cases, these claims spread faster than verified information.

CONCLUSION

The viral screenshot claiming that Donald Trump described the Nigerian government as insensitive following a Maiduguri bombing and a UK state visit is fabricated.

There is no credible evidence that Trump made such a statement, and the claim does not appear in any verified or authoritative source.

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