FACT-CHECK: Viral Screenshot Claiming Donald Trump Criticised Tinubu Over UK Trip after Maiduguri Attacks Is Fake!

BY: Mustapha Lawal

Claim: 

A screenshot circulating on social media claims that Donald Trump posted a message on Truth Social criticising Bola Ahmed Tinubu for travelling to the United Kingdom while security attacks were unfolding in Maiduguri. 

The alleged post reads in part:

“The situation in Nigeria is a TOTAL DISASTER. Massive, coordinated suicide bombings tonight in Maiduguri. A hospital, a major market, the post office—all hit! Many innocent people killed. This is what happens when you have NO LEADERSHIP and open borders for terrorists.

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.

Prime Minister Starmer should tell him to get on a plane and GO HOME IMMEDIATELY… Nigeria is a great country with wonderful people, but they are being let down by a government that isn’t focused on STRENGTH and SECURITY. TRUTH!”

Verdict: 

False! A search of Trump’s verified accounts shows no such post. The Nigerian Presidency has also dismissed the screenshot as fake.

Full Text: 

A viral screenshot of a Truth Social post purportedly attributed to Donald Trump has circulated widely on social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter). The image appears to show Trump criticising Bola Ahmed Tinubu for proceeding with a scheduled state visit to the United Kingdom shortly after bomb explosions were reported in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

On Monday, coordinated suicide bomb attacks linked to insurgent groups struck several locations in the city shortly after the breaking of the Ramadan fast. According to reports, the explosions occurred on Monday evening, striking multiple locations in Maiduguri, including a main market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Post Office flyover. 

The Nigeria Police Force in Borno confirmed that at least 23 people were killed in the attacks, while 108 others sustained injuries. The incidents followed an earlier overnight assault on a military position in the Ajilari area of the state.

In response, President Tinubu described the attacks as “profoundly upsetting” and characterised them as the “final desperate and frantic attempts” by terrorists facing sustained pressure from Nigerian forces. The president also directed security and intelligence chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri to oversee ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

It is important to note that, about an hour before the attacks were reported, the Nigerian Presidency announced Tinubu’s scheduled state visit to the United Kingdom. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the president would depart Abuja for the visit spanning March 18 to March 19. Onanuga also stated that King Charles III would host Tinubu and his wife during the visit.

Shortly after news of the explosions spread, an X user shared the screenshot purportedly showing Trump reacting to the attacks on Truth Social. The alleged message accused Tinubu of abandoning a national emergency and urged him to return to Nigeria immediately to lead the response.

The post was subsequently shared widely across social media platforms and messaging groups.

Some users also circulated screenshots of responses generated by Grok, an AI chatbot integrated into X, which appeared to suggest that the alleged post existed. These screenshots were shared as further “evidence” that the message was authentic.

However, other interactions with the same chatbot showed the opposite conclusion, indicating that the screenshot was likely fabricated and that there was no confirmed record of such a post from Trump.

Verification

FactCheckAfrica conducted searches across Trump’s official communication channels, including his verified @realDonaldTrump account on Truth Social and other affiliated platforms. 

The search found no record of the viral statement attributed to Trump. No post matching the screenshot’s text, tone, or timestamp was found. Trump’s recent posts on the platform focused mainly on international sports, domestic U.S. political commentary, discussions involving NATO, and geopolitical issues such as tensions with Iran.

FactCheckAfrica also found no credible reports from major international or Nigerian news outlets attributing any statement about the Maiduguri attacks to Trump. Similarly, no official communication from U.S. government channels referenced such remarks.

The Nigerian Presidency also dismissed the viral claim. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, publicly described the screenshot as fake. In a post on X, Dare labelled the circulating image “Fake!!!” and shared the doctored screenshot as part of the rebuttal.

The absence of the alleged statement on verified platforms, combined with the official denial from the presidency, indicates that the screenshot was fabricated and does not reflect an authentic message from Trump.

Fabricated screenshots attributing dramatic statements to high-profile figures frequently circulate during security crises, often to amplify outrage, criticise governments, or advance political narratives online.

Conclusion:

The viral screenshot claiming that Donald Trump criticised President Bola Tinubu’s travel over security incidents in Maiduguri is fake. FactCheckAfrica found no evidence that the message was posted on Trump’s Truth Social account or any verified platform. The Nigerian Presidency has also publicly dismissed the screenshot as fabricated.