President Donald Trump poured encomium on Nigeria’s first lady, Remi Tinubu, at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday months after President Bola Tinubu’s government splashed millions of dollars on Republican lobbyists to burnish his tainted reputation in Washington following Mr Trump’s 2025 remarks denouncing Nigeria “a disgrace” under his leadership.

“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,” the Republican president said on Thursday. 

“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,” Mr Trump added. 

Mr Trump’s glowing remarks sharply contrast with his previous stance on the Nigerian administration under Mr Tinubu, given that he had threatened to cut off subsidy and other financial aid the West African nation enjoyed from Washington.

Mr Tinubu had defended his administration and rebuffed the claims of Christian genocide asserting the killings were not religiously motivated. He downplayed the insecurity crisis to a clash between farmers and herders.

Mr Trump’s special recognition for the Nigerian first lady and turnaround from his previous snipe at the administration appeared to show that the U.S. leader might be having a change of heart in his perception of Abuja and that the $9million contract Mr Tinubu’s administration splurged on Republican lobbyist was working.

Kidnappings and killings are yet to abate in Nigeria as over 170 people were slaughtered in Kwara state by insurgents this week.