US President Donald Trump's foreign policy towards Africa has taken a worrying turn, with the latest decision to terminate temporary protected status for immigrants from South Sudan raising serious concerns about his commitment to human rights and Christian values.
Just last week, Trump had threatened to go "guns-a-blazing" into Nigeria in defense of its Christian population, only to be quickly rebuffed by Nigerian officials who denied allegations of a Christian genocide. In reality, Christians have not been the exclusive target of violence in Nigeria, with many Muslim victims also being affected.
Meanwhile, Trump's administration has prioritized white South Africans for asylum, despite a lack of evidence suggesting they are facing persecution. This decision is part of a broader narrative that seeks to justify limiting immigration from certain countries by claiming that the US must protect its own Christian values and way of life.
Experts argue that this approach is a hallmark of "Christian nationalism," which posits that racial and ethnic groups have their own particular territories and that the loyalty of Christians should be prioritized over those in other faiths. This ideology allows for the selective enforcement of immigration policies based on perceived threats to white Christian dominance.
In reality, Trump's policy prescriptions towards Nigeria and South Africa are quite different from one another, despite crafting similar narratives. While his approach in Nigeria has been focused on protecting Christians, he has sought to bring Afrikaners into the US through expedited refugee processes. This double standard raises serious questions about Trump's commitment to human rights and Christian values.
The decision to terminate protection for South Sudanese immigrants from deportation also highlights a worrying trend of authoritarianism under Trump. His administration has ignored court orders, put MAGA loyalists in charge of key agencies, and stripped Congress of its power over the purse.
As The Intercept notes, this is not hyperbole. The takeover of the US government by Trump and his allies poses a significant threat to democracy and human rights. By covering this story as politics-as-usual, many outlets are failing to hold Trump accountable for his actions and undermining the very foundations of our democracy.
Will you help us continue to cover this critical issue?
Just last week, Trump had threatened to go "guns-a-blazing" into Nigeria in defense of its Christian population, only to be quickly rebuffed by Nigerian officials who denied allegations of a Christian genocide. In reality, Christians have not been the exclusive target of violence in Nigeria, with many Muslim victims also being affected.
Meanwhile, Trump's administration has prioritized white South Africans for asylum, despite a lack of evidence suggesting they are facing persecution. This decision is part of a broader narrative that seeks to justify limiting immigration from certain countries by claiming that the US must protect its own Christian values and way of life.
Experts argue that this approach is a hallmark of "Christian nationalism," which posits that racial and ethnic groups have their own particular territories and that the loyalty of Christians should be prioritized over those in other faiths. This ideology allows for the selective enforcement of immigration policies based on perceived threats to white Christian dominance.
In reality, Trump's policy prescriptions towards Nigeria and South Africa are quite different from one another, despite crafting similar narratives. While his approach in Nigeria has been focused on protecting Christians, he has sought to bring Afrikaners into the US through expedited refugee processes. This double standard raises serious questions about Trump's commitment to human rights and Christian values.
The decision to terminate protection for South Sudanese immigrants from deportation also highlights a worrying trend of authoritarianism under Trump. His administration has ignored court orders, put MAGA loyalists in charge of key agencies, and stripped Congress of its power over the purse.
As The Intercept notes, this is not hyperbole. The takeover of the US government by Trump and his allies poses a significant threat to democracy and human rights. By covering this story as politics-as-usual, many outlets are failing to hold Trump accountable for his actions and undermining the very foundations of our democracy.
Will you help us continue to cover this critical issue?