Unforgettable STORY Of How Donald Trump Sent Unexpected Message To Anambra Youths, Women
In 2020, as the United States was gripped by a fiercely contested presidential election, an unexpected scene unfolded thousands of miles away in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. A group of enthusiastic supporters held a campaign rally in honour of then- incumbent President Donald Trump, who was battling Democratic challenger Joe Biden for a second term in office.
Wearing coordinated white and blue uniforms, the group— largely made up of women and youths— took to the streets of Onitsha, waving American flags and brandishing banners with inscriptions such as ” Make America Great Again” and ” President Trump: America Needs A Man Like You” . Their chants of victory songs for Trump echoed through the city, demonstrating an unexpected wave of support from a distant land.
The rally, which quickly gained international attention, was seen as a rare show of foreign support for a US presidential candidate. Footage of the event made its way to social media, eventually catching the attention of President Trump himself. In a tweet, he expressed his gratitude, writing, ” A parade for me in Nigeria, a great honour, ” as he reposted a video of the rally.
The pro- Trump rally in Nigeria was particularly striking given the backdrop of Trump’ s immigration policies, which were seen as unfavourable to many Nigerians. Just a month before the rally, the Trump administration proposed guidelines that could restrict international students, including those from Nigeria, to a maximum two- year stay in the US.
Earlier in the year, the administration imposed a ban on immigrant visas for Nigerians and six other countries. This move prevented those seeking to relocate permanently to the US from obtaining the necessary visas, leading to significant disappointment among many hopeful Nigerian migrants.
Despite these policies, pro- Trump sentiments had been growing in Nigeria since his election in 2016. A survey revealed that more than half of Nigerians expressed confidence in Trump’ s ability to handle global affairs, a figure that surprised many political analysts.
Several factors have been linked to the support for Trump in Nigeria. Religious alignment is a major influence, as many conservative Christians in Nigeria resonate with Trump’s stance on social issues, particularly his opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion. Additionally, his image as a decisive and bold leader appeals to some Nigerians who admire his assertive style of governance.
Economic considerations also play a role. Some Nigerian businesspeople view Trump’s emphasis on deregulation and his pro- business policies as beneficial, hoping they would lead to a stronger US economy, which could indirectly benefit international trade partners, including Nigeria.
The rally in Onitsha sparked mixed reactions both locally and internationally. While some Nigerians praised the demonstrators for exercising their freedom of expression and showing international solidarity, others criticised the rally as misguided, pointing to Trump’ s restrictive immigration policies that directly impacted Nigerians.
