Washington, D.C. — Two high-profile Nigerian clerics, Pastor William Kumuyi and Pastor Nathaniel Bassey, participated in events surrounding Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, underscoring the strong ties between Christian evangelicalism and the incoming US administration.
Although Pastor Kumuyi, founder of the Deeper Life Bible Church and convener of the Global Crusade With Kumuyi, was invited to attend Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, he could not do so after the event was moved indoors due to inclement weather.
Instead, he participated in a prayer service for the incoming president and met with conservative political groups, including Turning Point USA, to discuss partnerships for global evangelism.
Meanwhile, renowned gospel artist and pastor Nathaniel Bassey performed at the US Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast, a non-political, faith-based event held prior to the swearing-in ceremony.
Though not an official part of the celebrations, the breakfast featured Bassey as the only African artist, further elevating his global recognition.
Pastor Kumuyi explained his involvement in a statement, saying he aimed to “celebrate a return to religious freedom in America and support for other nations in combatting religious persecution.” This aligns with Trump’s strong appeal to evangelical Christian voters both domestically and internationally.
During his first term, Trump took significant steps to promote religious freedom globally, including hosting the first foreign ministers’ meeting focused on the issue and issuing an Executive Order declaring it a priority of US foreign policy.
According to Dion Forster, professor of public theology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the participation of prominent Nigerian clerics benefits both Trump and Pastor Kumuyi.
While Kumuyi demonstrates his global influence by associating with “the most powerful man in the world,” Trump leverages the popularity of African religious leaders to expand his influence beyond traditional diplomatic channels.
“Trump’s political machine is adept at finding alternative power structures,” Forster explains. “By connecting with figures like Pastor Kumuyi, Trump taps into evangelical networks with significant global influence.”
Similarly, Caleb Okereke, founder of Minority Africa, sees the partnership as a reflection of shared conservative values, particularly around issues like opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.
“There is a deep alignment between US conservatives and African evangelicals,” Okereke notes, though he points out the cognitive dissonance in African support for Trump, given his past derogatory remarks about African nations and restrictive immigration policies targeting the continent.
For Pastor Nathaniel Bassey, known for his global worship initiative Hallelujah Challenge, participation in the inauguration-related events solidifies his international status. With nearly four million Instagram followers, Bassey’s influence extends far beyond his role as a Redeemed Christian Church of God music minister in Lagos, Nigeria.
Both Kumuyi and Bassey’s presence signals the growing intersection of faith and politics on the global stage, reflecting deeper ties between US evangelicalism and African Christianity. Whether this alignment will have lasting geopolitical impacts remains to be seen.
