Christmas Thunder: Trump Orders ‘Deadly’ Strike on ISIS in Nigeria to Protect Christians
In a dramatic Christmas Day escalation of American military involvement in Africa, President Donald Trump announced late Thursday that the U.S. military has carried out a “powerful and deadly strike” against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Northwest Nigeria.
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The President, speaking from his Truth Social platform, framed the operation as a direct response to what he described as the “vicious” persecution of the country’s Christian population.
“Hell to Pay”
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria,” the President wrote.3 He alleged that the group has been targeting innocent Christians “at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!”
The strikes come after months of intensifying rhetoric from the White House regarding the security situation in Africa’s most populous nation. In November, Trump reportedly instructed his Secretary of Defense to prepare for potential action, warning that the U.S. would enter the region “guns-a-blazing” if the violence did not cease.6
“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 President added.7
The “Department of War” in Action
In a notable shift in terminology, the President credited the Department of War, a secondary title he authorized for the Department of Defense via Executive Order in September 2025, with executing “numerous perfect strikes.”
While the Pentagon (still legally the Department of Defense under statutory law) has not yet released specific battle damage assessments or the exact location of the strikes, the President indicated the casualties among the militants were significant.9
“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 President concluded.
A Growing Focus on Nigeria
The Trump administration has spent much of late 2025 pivoting its foreign policy toward the “existential threat” facing Christians in West Africa.10
- Diplomatic Pressure: In recent weeks, the State Department designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” and restricted visas for officials linked to religious violence.
- A “Faith-Based” Health Deal: Only days ago, the administration signed a $2.1 billion health agreement with Nigeria that specifically prioritized “Christian faith-based health care providers.”
- Military Presence: This strike marks a definitive move from diplomatic pressure to active combat operations in the region.
The Nigerian government, which has long maintained it is doing its best to fight insurgencies from Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa (ISIS-WA), has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the breach of its airspace or the coordination of the strikes.
CNN has reached out to the White House and the “Department of War” for additional comment on the number of assets involved and whether any civilian casualties occurred during the operation.
