Fact-Check: Trump Did Not Criticize Tinubu's UK Visit After Borno Bombings
A viral social media claim alleging that former United States President Donald Trump criticized Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for embarking on a state visit to the United Kingdom following deadly bomb explosions in Maiduguri has been thoroughly debunked as false. Multiple fact-checking investigations have confirmed that no such statement was made by Trump, and the purported post on his Truth Social account is entirely fabricated.
The False Claim and Its Origins
The false claim emerged following a tragic series of events in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday, March 16, 2026. Multiple coordinated suicide bombings targeted a hospital, a major market, and a post office, resulting in the deaths of at least 23 people and injuries to over 100 others. The attacks were attributed to Boko Haram terrorists, highlighting ongoing security challenges in northeastern Nigeria.
In the aftermath, a doctored post on the social media platform Truth went viral. It purported to show Trump urging UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to tell Tinubu to return to Nigeria immediately. The fabricated text read, in part: "The situation in Nigeria is a TOTAL DISASTER... While his country is in a state of NATIONAL EMERGENCY, President Tinubu is currently 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!"
Verification and Debunking
Extensive verification efforts have conclusively proven that the viral post is fake. A direct check of Trump's Truth Social account revealed no such post exists. Furthermore, the claim was not reported by any reputable news media outlets globally, nor did it appear on official White House platforms or Trump's other social media pages.
Adding to the debunking, the X AI tool Grok also confirmed the fabrication, stating: "The screenshot is fabricated—no such post exists on Trump's Truth Social account. Fact-checks by Daily Trust, TheCable, FIJ, and others confirm this. The Maiduguri suicide bombings did occur on March 16 (at least 23 killed, 100+ injured at hospital/market/post office sites), but Trump made no such statement."
Nigerian Presidency's Response
The Nigerian presidency has reacted to the false claim, with Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga labeling it as the handiwork of enemies of Nigeria. Onanuga emphasized that such fabrications are perpetrated by individuals always ready to create misinformation to undermine the government and sow discord.
Despite the fabricated Trump claim, President Tinubu's UK visit did face legitimate criticism from some quarters within Nigeria. Former APC chieftain Timi Frank described the trip as callous and demanded its cancellation in light of the national crisis, reflecting broader governance concerns and public dissatisfaction regarding leadership priorities during emergencies.
Conclusion
In summary, the claim that Donald Trump blasted President Bola Tinubu for visiting the UK a day after Boko Haram terrorists launched multiple bomb explosions in Maiduguri is entirely false. While the Maiduguri attacks were tragically real, resulting in significant casualties, Trump made no such critical comments. This incident underscores the importance of verifying information from credible sources before sharing, especially in an era where misinformation can spread rapidly on social media platforms.
