Public affairs commentator and political analyst, Mahdi Shehu, has unleashed a scathing critique of former United States President Donald Trump over his recent threat to initiate military action in Nigeria, ostensibly to protect Christians amid rising sectarian tensions in the country. Shehu’s comments, shared via X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday night, cast Trump as a warmonger and accused the United States of hypocrisy in its approach to religion, morality, human rights, and democracy.
‘America Is the Biggest Pretender’ – Shehu
In his post, Shehu argued that Trump’s justification for potential intervention in Nigeria was nothing more than a façade masking ulterior motives. According to him, America has long pretended to champion religion, morality, equality, justice, and democracy globally while consistently failing to uphold these principles at home.
“There is no better pretender about religion, morality, equality, human rights, justice and democracy than America, and now along with its blood-thirsty Hollywood actor, Trump,” Shehu wrote, underlining his view that Trump’s interventionist rhetoric is both opportunistic and disingenuous.
He emphasised that while the U.S. struggles with its own internal crises, including rising crime rates, domestic terror threats, and political unrest, it paradoxically continues to interfere in the affairs of other sovereign nations under the guise of moral authority.
“With a series of terror attacks and daily killings of its citizens, America is unable to alert its own people but has the effrontery to create a false sense of concern for others,” Shehu added, pointing to what he described as a consistent pattern of double standards in U.S. foreign policy.
‘America Promotes Global Instability’
Shehu further alleged that the U.S. has actively contributed to global instability for decades. He claimed that since 1945, America has been responsible for the deaths of millions of Christians either through direct military interventions or by funding proxy wars in regions across the world, including Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
The commentator accused the U.S. of exporting a self-serving version of democracy to Africa while simultaneously supporting authoritarian regimes in oil-rich countries, motivated by the profits from crude oil and arms sales. He described this as a deliberate exploitation of weaker nations while portraying a false narrative of moral leadership.
According to Shehu, the U.S. provides secure havens for funds stolen from developing countries, yet continues to blame those same nations for underdevelopment and economic instability. This, he argued, highlights the hypocrisy and self-interest underlying American foreign policy claims.
‘Trump’s Move May Trigger Religious Crisis’
Shehu warned that Trump’s purported defence of Christians in Nigeria could backfire, potentially igniting a broader religious conflict within the country. He suggested that American military intervention, particularly airstrikes targeting Islamic terrorists, could unintentionally affect Islamic clerics, Muslim-majority communities, mosques, and madrasas, worsening sectarian tensions.
“In the process of killing Islamic terrorists in Nigeria, American drones and war planes will end up targeting Islamic clerics, Muslim-dominated settlements, mosques, and madrasas,” he wrote, highlighting the potential for collateral damage and destabilisation.
He asserted that the ultimate aim of the U.S. is not to protect Christians but to destabilise Nigeria, install puppet leaders, and exploit the country’s natural resources for its own gain. “The whole aim of America’s ‘new love for Christians’ is to create war in Nigeria, destroy it as a potential regional power, install stooges, rule by proxy, and extract endless raw materials for their satisfaction,” Shehu argued.
‘America Acts Like the Devil’
Shehu drew parallels between Trump’s threat in Nigeria and America’s historical interventions in other crisis-hit countries, including Guatemala, Nicaragua, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iran. He suggested that these interventions often led to prolonged instability, civilian casualties, and the enrichment of American corporate interests while leaving local populations vulnerable.
“When one recalls these countries, one cannot stop seeing America as the Devil Incarnate,” Shehu wrote, emphasising his view that U.S. foreign policy frequently undermines the very values it claims to uphold.
To reinforce his point, Shehu shared an image of Trump in court, referencing the former president’s ongoing legal challenges related to inciting violence and attempts to undermine democracy in the United States. He concluded his post with a stark warning: “The devil is a liar,” framing Trump’s actions abroad as part of a broader pattern of deceit and self-interest by American leaders.
Shehu’s post has since sparked discussion online, with supporters echoing concerns about foreign interference in Nigeria and critics debating the broader implications of U.S. threats for national sovereignty and regional stability.[/p>