President Donald Trump said the U.S. carried out airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas night against ISIS militants he accused of targeting and killing Christians. In a post Thursday on Truth Social, Trump described the operation as decisive and warned that more attacks would follow if the violence continues.
“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!” Trump said Thursday on Truth Social.
“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.
“Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper,” he continued. “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.”
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the strikes in a post on X Thursday night.
“At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on Dec. 25, 2025, in Sokoto State,” the post read.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz also commented after news of the operation.
“Merry Christmas to the Christians in Nigeria and around the world who know tonight that the President of the United States will fight for them,” he said in a post on X.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said Thursday, “I commend President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and our brave troops for these strikes against bloodthirsty ISIS savages who are not only persecuting Christians, but also have killed many Americans.”
Last month, Trump warned he would “do things in Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to be happy about” and said he would “go into that now disgraced country guns-a-blazing.”
That earlier warning framed the administration’s approach heading into the Christmas-night strikes, which Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said were meant to reinforce the president’s demand that the killings stop.
“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on X. “The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come…
“Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” he added. “Merry Christmas!”
The administration has also pointed to diplomatic pressure as part of its response. Nearly a month after Trump’s initial warning, it announced a new visa-restriction policy tied to what officials described as a rise in anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria—targeting individuals accused of organizing or enabling religious violence.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the policy, citing the Immigration and Nationality Act, would allow the State Department to deny visas to people “who have directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom.” He added that immediate family members could also face restrictions in certain cases.
“The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond,” Rubio said in the statement.
The policy followed a series of reported attacks on Christians and Christian institutions in Nigeria. Last month, gunmen stormed the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, killing two people and kidnapping dozens. The 38 abducted worshipers were freed nearly a week later.
Days later, armed attackers raided St. Mary’s School in Niger State, abducting more than 300 students and staff. School officials said 50 students aged 10 to 18 escaped in the following days, but 253 students and 12 teachers remain captive.
The violence prompted Trump to designate Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” a label the Nigerian government disputes.
“I’m really angry about it,” the president told Fox News Radio last month. “What’s happening in Nigeria is a disgrace.”
Echoing that stance, Rubio said earlier this month, “As President Trump made clear, the ‘United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries.’”
