President Donald Trump has signaled that the United States may carry out further military strikes in Nigeria if violence against Christian communities continues. His comments, made in an interview with The New York Times, followed the Christmas Day US airstrikes targeting Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria. While Washington described the operation as a counterterrorism mission conducted at Nigeria’s request, Trump framed it as a response to what he called the “mass slaughter” of Christians The Punch Newspapers Arise News Daily Post Nigeria.
Key Facts
- Christmas Day Strikes (Dec. 25, 2025): US forces launched airstrikes in northwest Nigeria against Islamic State militants, coordinated with Nigerian authorities USA Today Fox News.
- Trump’s Warning: “I’d love to make it a one-time strike… but if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike,” Trump said The Punch Newspapers Arise News Daily Post Nigeria.
- Nigeria’s Position: Nigerian officials insisted the operation was a joint counterterrorism effort targeting terrorists, not a religiously motivated action Arise News Daily Post Nigeria.
- Religious Violence Context: Trump emphasized that while Muslims are also victims of violence in Nigeria, Christians are disproportionately targeted Daily Post Nigeria.
- Global Reaction: The strikes drew international attention, with critics warning of escalating US involvement in Nigeria’s internal conflicts Yahoo.
Background
- Trump had previously threatened to intervene militarily in Nigeria over what he described as “mass killings of Christians” USA Today.
- The US Africa Command confirmed the strikes were aimed at ISIS-affiliated groups operating in Nigeria’s northwest USA Today.
- Nigerian government officials sought to downplay religious framing, stressing that the operation was part of broader counterterrorism cooperation Arise News.
Analysis
Trump’s remarks highlight the intersection of US foreign policy and religious violence in Nigeria, raising questions about sovereignty, intervention, and the framing of terrorism. While Washington insists the strikes were counterterrorism operations, Trump’s emphasis on Christian persecution risks inflaming sectarian tensions.
