INTERNACIONAL
Trump designates Nigeria as ‘country of particular concern’ over widespread Christian persecution, killings
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President Trump announced Friday that he is designating Nigeria as a «country of particular concern,» citing the widespread killings of Christians in the West African country.
«Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,» Trump posted to Truth Social. «Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a «COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN» — But that is the least of it.»
The President emphasized that action must be taken when people are persecuted for their faith.
CRUZ CLASHES WITH NIGERIA OVER HIS CLAIMS 50,000 CHRISTIANS KILLED SINCE 2009 IN RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE
Trump said he has directed Rep. Riley Moore, R-W. Va., Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., and members of the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the situation and report their findings to him.
«The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries,» Trump said. «We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!»
Members of St Leo Catholic Church hold a procession to mark Palm Sunday in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, on April 13, 2025. (Photo by Adekunle Ajayi) (Adekunle Ajayi/Getty Images)
The situation for Christians in Nigeria has reached an alarming level. Entire villages have been burned to the ground, worshipers killed during Sunday services, and thousands displaced by Islamist groups sweeping through the country’s northern and central regions.
In June, militants attacked the village of a bishop, just days after he testified before Congress about Christian persecution, leaving more than twenty people dead. Similar assaults in Plateau and Benue states have killed hundreds this year alone, with survivors describing how gunmen shouted, «Allahu Akbar» as they torched churches and homes.
Christians hold signs as they march on the streets of Abuja during a prayer and penance for peace and security in Nigeria in Abuja on March 1, 2020. The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria gathered faithful as well as other Christians and other people to pray for security and to denounce the barbaric killings of Christians by the Boko Haram insurgents and the incessant cases of kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images)
According to the international watchdog group Open Doors, nearly 70% of all Christians killed for their faith worldwide last year were in Nigeria. The group warns that Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Fulani militant herders are responsible for most of the bloodshed, often targeting Christian farmers in the country’s Middle Belt. Rights organizations estimate that thousands of believers are murdered every year, while countless others are forced to flee.
Mark Walker, President Trump’s ambassador-designate for International Religious Freedom, told Fox News Digital that the United States must do what it can to pressure Nigeria’s government to act.
JIHADISTS MASSACRE 89 CHRISTIANS IN AFRICAN NATION, MANY SLAIN AT FUNERAL SERVICE
Pope Leo XIV condemned the killings of up to 200 people in Yelewata community in Nigeria. (Associated Press)
«Even being conservative, it’s probably 4,000 to 8,000 Christians killed annually,» Walker said. «This has been going on for years — from ISWAP to Islamist Fulani ethnic militias — and the Nigerian government has to be much more proactive.»
Walker, a former pastor and Republican congressman from North Carolina, said that although he has not yet been confirmed, he already works with church networks across Africa to help keep missionaries and local believers safe.
«This isn’t about appropriations or politics — this is about human life. We’re talking about boys and girls, about women being kidnapped and horrific things happening. All of us should raise our voices.»
He added that he plans to work closely with Marco Rubio to strengthen U.S. advocacy once confirmed. «Fortunately, we have a Secretary of State who has been one of the stronger voices,» Walker said. «He’s already put out statements and is very in tune with what’s going on. I look forward to advising him when it comes to countries of particular concern.»
WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS TO SURGE IN CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION CRISIS ACROSS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
People gather on July 2, 2014, at the scene of a car bomb explosion, at the central market, in Maiduguri, Nigeria, the birthplace of terror group Boko Haram. (AP Photo/Jossy Ola)
The White House has also acknowledged a surge in anti-Christian violence across sub-Saharan Africa, where jihadist movements are exploiting political instability and porous borders. Both Pope Leo and the U.S. State Department have condemned recent massacres in Nigeria, warning that the crisis risks spreading beyond the country’s borders.
Walker added «The United States should always stand up for freedom of religion, and that starts with speaking the truth about what’s happening.»
While humanitarian groups continue to raise alarms, Nigerian officials deny that Christians are being systematically targeted. Information Minister Mohammed Idris recently told Fox News Digital that claims of mass persecution are «very misleading,» rejecting U.S. reports that tens of thousands have been killed.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, recently told Fox News Digital that «since 2009, over 50,000 Christians in Nigeria have been massacred,» and «over 20,000 churches and Christian schools have been destroyed.» He called the violence «a crisis of religious genocide» and urged tougher U.S. action.
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Women and children who were held captive by Islamic extremists, and rescued by the Nigerian army, are seen upon arrival in Maiduguri, Nigeria, Monday, May 20, 2024. Hundreds of hostages, mostly children whose mothers were held captive and forcefully married by Islamic extremists in northeastern Nigeria, have been rescued from their key forest enclave and handed over to authorities, the West African nation’s army said late Monday. (AP Photo/Jossy Olatunji)
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga dismissed the criticism, telling Nigeria’s Daily Post, «Christians are not targeted. We have religious harmony in our country.»
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Despite the political debate, the facts on the ground remain grim. Christian villages are still under attack, churches continue to burn, and millions live in fear. Western governments have issued statements but taken little tangible action to halt the killings or support survivors, said a priest from Plateau State and added, «When the world stays silent, the killers return.»
Fox News’ Paul Tilsley contributed to this report.
africa,persecutions,christianity religion,faith,world,religion,marco rubio,christianity,state department,terrorism
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The 2025 off-year election cycle has come to a close, with Democrats emerging victorious in a handful of high-profile elections.
The election season was much more muted compared to 2024’s wild federal election that delivered President Donald Trump a victory over then-Vice President Kamala Harris, with 2025 spotlighting the mayoral election in New York City, and a pair of gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey.
Fox News Digital compiled Election Day 2025’s biggest winners and losers following months of campaigning on top voter concerns, namely affordability and the economy.
WHAT THE RESULTS OF THE 2025 ELECTIONS MAY MEAN FOR DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
Former President Barack Obama during a campaign event for Representative Mikie Sherrill, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for New Jersey, not pictured, in Newark, New Jersey, US, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
WINNERS
Democrat bench
Following 2024’s federal election that left the Democratic Party working to find its footing after Harris’ loss, Democrats now have New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill and former Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger ascending as the top leaders of their respective states, broadening the party’s pool of leaders with new roles.
New Jersey Democrats were on the edge of their seats in the deep blue state after Trump made inroads with voters during the 2024 election, teeing up what Republicans saw as the opening to potentially flipping the state. Democrats, however, held their ground in the historically blue state with New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill defeating Trump-backed Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
«This was a tough fight and this is a tough state,» Sherrill said in her victory speech. «But I know you, New Jersey. I have fought for you. I’ve spoken with thousands of you over this last year. I know your struggles, your hopes, and your dreams.»
Spanberger notched a victory over Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears just roughly an hour after polls closed in the Old Dominion State.
«We sent a message to every corner of the commonwealth,» Spanberger said in her acceptance speech. «A message to our neighbors and our fellow Americans across the country. We sent a message to the whole world that in 2025, Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship. We chose our commonwealth over chaos. You all chose leadership that will focus relentlessly on what matters most: lowering costs, keeping our communities safe and strengthening our economy.»
THE TRUE COST OF THE 2025 ELECTIONS
Upon her inauguration in January, Spanberger will become the first female governor of Virginia.
The pair were viewed as potential new leaders of the Democratic Party as they worked to secure their gubernatorial wins. Now, they will head to their respective state Capitols armed with years of Congressional know-how and an opportunity to better cement their leadership within the party.
Democratic candidate for New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani with Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Action Network’s House of Justice in Harlem, New York, Nov. 1, 2025. (Ryan Murphy/Reuters)
Progressive socialists
Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, who ran as a Democrat, secured his win as the Big Apple’s next mayor in an election expected to deliver him favorable results as he ran against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo — who was forced to run as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani in June — and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
«My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty,» Mamdani said in his victory speech.
«New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate for change,» he added. «A mandate for a new kind of politics. A mandate for a city we can afford. And a mandate for a government that delivers exactly that.»
MEET THE CANDIDATES AIMING TO MAKE HISTORY IN THE 2025 ELECTIONS
The election notched a massive win for the left-wing faction of the Democratic Party. Mamdani was a relatively unknown state assembly member and democratic socialist who ascended the political ladder amid his primary campaign. He championed progressive plans for the city, such as freezing stabilized rents, increasing the city’s minimum wage and canceling fares for bus rides.
The race earned national coverage as conservatives slammed the socialist candidate as a threat to the city’s massive economy and status as America’s de facto symbol of capitalism, and warned he holds antisemitic views in a city with a massive Jewish population.
Other socialist candidates also have made big waves this cycle, including in Minneapolis where left-wing candidate Omar Fateh who has been described as the «Mamdani of Minneapolis.» The mayor’s race advanced to ranked choice voting on Tuesday after none of the candidates received at least 50% of the vote.
Minneapolis allows voters to rank up to three candidates in its municipal races. Incumbent Democrat Mayor Jacob Frey and Fateh received the most first-choice results, Fox News reported.
President Donald Trump walks from the Oval Office to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House en route to Florida, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/The Associated Press )
Donald Trump
Long before Election Day, President Donald Trump made clear he was no fan of New York City’s Mamdani, teeing up an expected political battle between the pair for the forseeable future.
Trump is famous for his long-running political spats with Democrat foes, such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Sen. Adam Schiff, frequently spotlighting the opponents as examples as to why Democrat policies fail while championing his MAGA approach.
Now, Trump has who likely will be another longstanding political foe as he continues his ongoing campaign against socialism and antisemitism.
«Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary, and is on his way to becoming Mayor,» Trump wrote on Truth Social in June. «We’ve had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous. He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he’s not very smart.»
«Any Jewish person that votes for Zohran Mamdani, a proven and self professed JEW HATER, is a stupid person!!!» the president claimed in a Truth Social post on Tuesday.
Mamdani is Muslim and has been accused of holding antisemitic views, including for declining to condemn the phrase «globalize the intifada.» The democratic socialist, however, has denied the claims and vowed to «do everything in my power to protect Jewish New Yorkers.»
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ELECTION DAY 2025: CRITICAL ELECTIONS, BALLOT MEASURES AND MORE
New Jersey Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Virginia Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears were the only GOP gubernatorial candidates running in the 2025 off-season election. (Getty Images)
LOSERS
Republican candidates
Republican candidates across the board in the handful of high-profile elections failed to rally enough support for their tickets, handing Democrats massive wins from the Virginia attorney general race to the party retaining control of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
The election cycle focused on the New York City mayoral race, and the pair of gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, where Democrats celebrated victories long before the clock struck midnight on Election Day.
Republicans, however, failed to rally support in a handful of other state elections, including three Democratic justices on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court defending their jobs from challengers. Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares also failed to retain his seat against Jay Jones, who was mired in controversy after text messages showed him envisioning the murder of a former Republican leader.
TRUMP’S SHADOW LOOMS LARGE OVER HEATED RACES ONE MONTH BEFORE ELECTION DAY
In California, Newsom and Democrats passed a ballot initiative to redraw the state’s congressional lines, which could flip up to five Republican seats blue in the liberal state.
Newsom launched the redistricting effort, Proposition 50, earlier in 2025 to counter the Trump administration’s promotion that Republicans in states such as Texas redistrict their own lines.
Ahead of Mamdani’s election Tuesday, business owners and conservative political leaders sounded off with concern that the democratic socialist’s policies could cripple the city’s economy. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
New York City business owners
Ahead of Mamdani’s election Tuesday, business owners and conservative political leaders sounded off with concern that the democratic socialist’s policies could cripple the city’s economy and spark businesses to flee.
«We will lose businesses in droves,» Republican Councilwoman Vickie Paladino said in July of Mamdani’s candidacy. «You got NASDAQ, you got Wall Street. They could work anywhere. They could work in Jersey, they could work in Connecticut. They don’t need to be in Lower Manhattan.»
Mamdani campaigned on proposals to raise the corporate tax rate, shift more of the tax burden to «richer and whiter neighborhoods» and add a flat 2% income tax on earners making over $1 million to pay for other programs that will fund other «free» services for the residents.
Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler added that the city is already strained by inflation, high taxes and regulation, and that the election of a socialist could cripple businesses.
«New York is the capital of capitalism and small businesses,» Loeffler told Fox Digital in September.
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«Small businesses are very concerned about what might be coming down the road, particularly as they hear threats of socialist policies, government takeover of industries, rising regulation, rising taxes, a minimum wage that may skyrocket to $30 an hour and cost thousands of jobs,» she said, adding that New York City businesses have already witnessed an «eroding customer base.»
Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias, Alec Schemmel and Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
politics,2020 presidential election,new york city,2025 2026 elections coverage
Casos
Murió Dick Cheney, el poderoso exvicepresidente de George W. Bush y uno de los artífices de la guerra de Estados Unidos con Irak.
Cheney, de 84 años, murió este martes a causa de una neumonía y luego de sufrir complicaciones con enfermedades cardíacas que padecía hace tiempo.
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Conocido por su gran influencia en la política interna de Estados Unidos, se consagró como el 46° vicepresidente estadounidense en 2001 y acompañó a Bush en sus dos mandatos.
Si bien su carrera política comenzó casi dos décadas antes, el camino de Cheney dentro de la Casa Blanca inició en 1989, cuando fue nombrado secretario de Defensa por George Bush padre.
Bajo ese rol es que dirigió el Pentágono durante la guerra del Golfo de 1990-91, donde el ejército estadounidense expulsó a las tropas de Irak de Kuwait.
Cuando Bush hijo comenzó su carrera presidencial, buscó su ayuda para encontrar un candidato a la vicepresidencia. Luego de algunos vaivenes, George W. Bush se inclinó por Cheney como compañero de fórmula. ARCHIVO – El ex vicepresidente de Estados Unidos Dick Cheney se dirige a un mitin de campaña para Gus Bilirakis, un republicano que se presenta por el distrito de Tampa Bay que deja su padre en Tampa, Florida, el 21 de julio de 2006. (AP Foto/Steve Nesius, Archivo)
Desde el principio de ese mandato, Cheney y Bush hicieron un pacto tácito en el que el flamante vicepresidente dejaría de lado las ambiciones por ser el jefe de la Casa Blanca, y, en paralelo, mantenía un poder comparable en algunos aspectos al de la presidencia misma.
En el Capitolio, Cheney trabajó por los proyectos del presidente en los pasillos que había recorrido como congresista conservador y como el número dos de la Cámara de Representantes.
Durante su tiempo en el cargo, la vicepresidencia dejó de ser un puesto ceremonial. Lo convirtió en una red de canales secundarios desde los cuales podía influir en la política sobre Irak, el terrorismo, los poderes presidenciales, la energía y otros pilares de una agenda conservadora.
Durante los meses posteriores al atentado a las Torres Gemelas, Cheney operó desde ubicaciones no reveladas, separado de Bush para asegurar que uno u otro sobreviviera a cualquier ataque posterior contra el liderazgo del país.
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Con Bush fuera de la ciudad en ese fatídico día, Cheney fue una presencia constante en la Casa Blanca, al menos hasta que los agentes del Servicio Secreto se lo llevaron.
Pero bien entrado el segundo mandato de Bush, la influencia de Cheney disminuyó, cercada por los tribunales o las realidades políticas cambiantes.
Años después de dejar el cargo, se convirtió en un objetivo del presidente Donald Trump, especialmente después de que su hija, Liz Cheney, se alzara como la principal crítica y examinadora republicana de los desesperados intentos de Trump por mantenerse en el poder después de su derrota electoral y sus acciones en el motín del 6 de enero de 2021 en el Capitolio.
En un anuncio televisivo para su hija, Cheney afirmó que “en los 246 años de historia de nuestra nación, nunca ha habido un individuo que representara una mayor amenaza» para la república “que Donald Trump”.
FILE PHOTO: Texas Governor and Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush waves with his newly named vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney as they left Casper, Wyoming July 26, 2000. REUTERS/Rick Wilking/File Photo
También dijo que Trump “intentó robar la última elección usando mentiras y violencia para mantenerse en el poder después de que los votantes lo rechazaran” y que era “un cobarde”.
En un giro que los demócratas de su época nunca podrían haber imaginado, Dick Cheney dijo el año pasado que votaría por su candidata, Kamala Harris, en las elecciones presidenciales contra Trump.
Sobreviviente de cinco ataques cardíacos, Cheney pensó durante mucho tiempo que vivía con tiempo prestado y declaró en 2013 que ahora se despertaba cada mañana “con una sonrisa en mi rostro, agradecido por el regalo de otro día”, una imagen extraña para una figura que siempre parecía estar en las barricadas.
Tiempo antes reveló que había desactivado la función inalámbrica de su desfibrilador por temor a que los terroristas enviaran remotamente a su corazón una descarga fatal.
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“Durante décadas, Dick Cheney sirvió a nuestra nación, desempeñando cargos como Jefe de Gabinete de la Casa Blanca, Congresista por Wyoming, Secretario de Defensa y Vicepresidente de los Estados Unidos”, señaló un comunicado de su familia.
En el mismo, sus familiares agregaron: “Dick Cheney fue un gran hombre que enseñó a sus hijos y nietos a amar a nuestro país y a vivir con valentía, honor, amor, bondad y a disfrutar de la pesca con mosca”.
“Le estamos profundamente agradecidos por todo lo que hizo por nuestra nación. Y nos sentimos inmensamente afortunados de haber amado y haber sido amados por este noble e imponente hombre”, cerraron.
Estados Unidos, Dick Cheney, George Bush
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