March 18, 2026
A provocative claim has exploded across social media in Nigeria, alleging that former US President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu regarding the recent bombings in Borno. But is there any truth to the viral post?
The claim, posted by X user @iOccupyNigeria and last edited late on March 16, 2026, has already garnered significant traction, amassing over 273,000 views, thousands of likes, and hundreds of comments.
The Viral Claim
The post features a screenshot of what appears to be a statement attributed to Donald Trump. The purported statement criticizes President Tinubu’s response to the recent security incidents in Borno State, specifically mentioning "coordinated attacks" in Maiduguri and questioning the President’s decision to travel to the United Kingdom amid the crisis. The language used is highly emotive, including phrases like "TOTAL DISASTER" and "NO LEADERSHIP."
What We Found
A thorough fact-check reveals that this claim is completely fabricated.
1. No Official Source: A review of Donald Trump’s official social media platform, Truth Social, shows absolutely no record of such a post. Given his history of making headlines with international statements, the absence of this post on his official channel is a significant red flag.
2. The Interface Inconsistency: While the text in the screenshot ends with "TRUTH!"—a signature line Trump uses on Truth Social—the visual interface of the image itself resembles X (formerly Twitter). This glaring inconsistency strongly suggests the screenshot has been digitally manipulated.
3. Media Blackout: If a figure of Donald Trump’s stature had commented on a sitting African president’s handling of a national crisis, it would be front-page news globally. A search of reputable international and major Nigerian media outlets shows zero reports of such a statement.
4. Emotional Language: The post’s tone is a classic hallmark of viral misinformation. It relies on emotionally charged, inflammatory language designed to provoke outrage and shares rather than presenting a verified, factual statement.
The Verdict: FALSE
The claim that Donald Trump criticized President Bola Tinubu is false. There is no credible evidence to support it. The inconsistencies in the fabricated screenshot, the lack of official confirmation, and the absence of any media coverage all point to a coordinated piece of misinformation designed to mislead the public.
We advise readers to be cautious of such posts and always verify information through official channels and reputable news sources before sharing.
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