PALM BEACH, Florida, December 26, 2025 – U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Christmas Day that he had directed American forces to launch "powerful and deadly" strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwest Nigeria, accusing the group of primarily targeting and killing innocent Christians in recent violence.
In a post on his Truth Social platform while spending the holiday at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump wrote: "Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!"
He continued: "I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing."
Trump concluded with a provocative holiday message: "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."
The strikes, confirmed by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), targeted ISIS camps in Sokoto State, a northwestern region bordering Niger. AFRICOM stated the operation was conducted "in coordination with Nigerian authorities," with an initial assessment indicating "multiple ISIS terrorists" were killed. Reports described the use of Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a U.S. Navy vessel in the Gulf of Guinea, striking at least two militant camps.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth echoed Trump's announcement on X, stating: "The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation."
Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the strikes, describing them as "precision hits on terrorist targets" resulting from bilateral security cooperation, including intelligence sharing. The ministry emphasized Nigeria's commitment to protecting all citizens "irrespective of faith or ethnicity" and rejected framing the violence solely as religious persecution.
The action follows months of escalating rhetoric from Trump regarding violence in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with a roughly even split between Muslims and Christians. In November, Trump threatened potential U.S. military intervention, warning of entering Nigeria "guns-a-blazing" if attacks on Christians continued. He also directed the Pentagon to prepare contingency plans and redesignated Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act for alleged severe violations.
Trump has portrayed the violence as an "existential threat" to Christianity, claiming over 7,000 Christians killed in 2025 alone by radical Islamists. Advocacy groups like International Christian Concern have supported this narrative, reporting thousands of deaths and displacements in northern and central regions.
However, Nigerian officials and independent analysts describe the security crisis as multifaceted, involving banditry, herder-farmer clashes over resources, ethnic tensions, and insurgencies like Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram affiliates. Experts note that militants have killed far more Muslims than Christians overall, with violence affecting communities across religious lines. The U.S. State Department has acknowledged complexity but maintained concerns over religious freedom.
The Christmas strikes mark another assertive use of military force in Trump's second term, following recent operations against ISIS in Syria and other regions. They underscore his administration's focus on countering Islamist extremism while prioritizing protection of Christian communities abroad, a theme resonant with his domestic evangelical base.
No immediate casualty figures from militants or civilians were available, though AFRICOM emphasized precision to minimize collateral damage. The operation highlights ongoing U.S.-Nigeria security partnerships amid broader counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel.
As 2025 draws to a close, the strikes signal Trump's willingness to employ unilateral lethal action in defense of perceived religious persecution, even as debates persist over the characterization of Nigeria's internal conflicts.
