A viral video circulating on social media claiming that United States President, Donald Trump, publicly praised Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at a major U.S. event has been found to be false and misleading.

The claim, which gained traction mainly on Facebook and WhatsApp, alleges that Trump made laudatory remarks about the Nigerian First Lady during a high-profile international gathering in Washington, D.C. However, multiple checks by independent observers and media analysts show that no such praise was made.

What the Video Shows The footage used in the viral clip is authentic and was recorded during the U.S. National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., an annual event attended by political leaders, clergy, and dignitaries. At the event, Trump delivered remarks largely centered on faith, American domestic politics, and U.S. public figures.

A review of the full video recording, official transcripts of Trump’s speech, and contemporaneous coverage by reputable international media revealed that Trump did not mention Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria, or any foreign leader’s spouse at the event.

A Falsehood in the Claim
Fact-checkers confirmed that:
Donald Trump did not mention or acknowledge Nigeria’s First Lady; He did not praise her character, leadership, or public role; There were no special remarks directed at Nigeria or its leadership during the speech.

Analysts noted that if such a statement had been made, it would have attracted widespread coverage from major global news organisations, including Reuters, Associated Press, BBC, Al Jazeera, and leading Nigerian media outlets. No such reports exist.

How the Misinformation Spread, Experts say the viral content appears to be a case of misinformation built around genuine footage. While the video itself is real, it is accompanied by fabricated captions, misleading narration, or possibly AI-generated audio that falsely attributes statements to Trump.

This technique, analysts warn, is increasingly common in political propaganda, where authentic visuals are repurposed to push false narratives.
Why It Matters, Media observers caution that manipulated political content can mislead the public, distort perceptions of international relations, and weaken trust in credible journalism. They stress the importance of verification, especially at a time when artificial intelligence tools are making it easier to doctor videos and audio recordings.

The public has been urged to rely on reports from verified media organisations and to be wary of sensational claims by APC media foot soldiers that appear only on social media platforms without confirmation from trusted news sources.

Checks confirm that while the video footage from the U.S. National Prayer Breakfast is genuine, the claim that Donald Trump praised Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is false. The viral clip is misleading and likely the result of deceptive editing or fabricated narration.
Media analysts advise Nigerians to verify political content before sharing, as misinformation continues to spread rapidly online, often exploiting real events to promote falsehoods.

Boris