US President Trump praises Remi Tinubu, she is Christian pastor in Nigeria’s largest church
“We’re honoured to be joined today by the First Lady of Nigeria, who also happens to serve as a Christian pastor at the largest church in Nigeria.”
US President Donald Trump on Thursday February 5, 2026 described Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, as a very respected woman.
Trump gave the acknowledgement while speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, sparking controversy as to how the wife of the Nigerian president may not be unconnected with the alleged Christian Agenda 2027 for which Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan’s role is being subject of demand for his removal as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria.
The annual event, attended by members of the US Congress, Christian religious leaders and international Christian guests, featured Trump eulogising Mrs Tinubu, a pastor of a Nigerian church, in the audience as he addressed attendees on matters of faith and global religious freedom.
He said he was honoured to have Mrs Tinubu, who he described as a pastor in Nigeria’s largest church, in attendance at the prayer breakfast.
“We’re honoured to be joined today by the First Lady of Nigeria, who also happens to serve as a Christian pastor at the largest church in Nigeria.
“A very respected woman. First Lady, please, where are you? Thank you very much. It’s a great honour. Thank you very much. Very respected person, too. Thank you,” Trump said as he looked into the crowd.
Mrs Tinubu is an ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which is among Nigeria’s largest and most influential Pentecostal denominations.
The remarks came amid continued international attention on Nigeria’s security situation following recent claims by Trump and some US lawmakers that Christians in Nigeria face widespread violence.
In late 2025, Trump designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged attacks on Christians — a move that drew criticism from the Nigerian government, which rejected the claims as inaccurate and harmful to national unity.
The Federal Government maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges are driven by terrorism and criminality affecting citizens of all faiths, and insisted that constitutional guarantees protect religious freedom for Muslims and Christians alike.
