President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that Kevin Rideout, an American missionary captured by a terrorist group in Niger last year, was safely returned to the United States.
“I am proud to announce that Kevin Rideout, a wonderful Christian Missionary, is back in United States Custody,” Trump wrote on Truth Social late Friday morning. “Kevin was kidnapped by Jihadi terrorists in West Africa — The epicenter of Islamist terrorism, where there have been more deadly attacks in the past year than anywhere else on Earth. Kevin, the United States of America looks forward to welcoming you HOME. Glad to have helped!”
Rideout, a pilot for the Christian missionary organization SIM International, was seized outside of his home near Niger’s capital in October.
Trump has made countering the persecution of Christians in Africa by Islamic terrorists a core focus since his return to the White House. Securing Rideout’s release had previously been stated as a focus for the White House and State Department.
On Christmas Day 2025, the president announced that the U.S. had launched drone strikes against “ISIS Terrorist Scum” in Northwest Nigeria, directly south of Niger.
Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time that the insurgents had been “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!”
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“Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” he added.