Trump delivers 'deadly' gift to terrorists with Christmas Day attack in Nigeria: US President says Military launched 'numerous' strikes on IS

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday (December 25, 2025) that American forces carried out a “powerful and deadly strike” against Islamic State (IS) terrorists in northwestern Nigeria, who, according to him, have been targeting and viciously killing primarily innocent Christians. He vowed more attacks if terrorists continue to “slaughter” Christians.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump said that under his leadership the US will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper.

“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! 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 US President said.


“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. 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.

Pentagon ‘grateful’ to Nigerian govt for ‘support and cooperation’

US Africa Command said in an X post that it conducted a strike "at the request of Nigerian authorities...killing multiple ISIS terrorists." Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth took to X to praise his department's readiness to take action in Nigeria and said he was "grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation."

Deadly strikes in Nigeria first under Trump

The attacks mark the first by US forces in Nigeria under Trump and come after the Republican unexpectedly berated the West African nation in October and November, saying Christians there faced an "existential threat" that amounted to "genocide" amid Nigeria's myriad armed conflicts.

According to AFP, the diplomatic offensive was welcomed by some but interpreted by others as inflaming religious tensions in Africa's most populous country, which has seen bouts of sectarian violence in the past.

Nigeria's government and independent analysts reject framing the country's violence in terms of religious persecution, AFP reported. It is a narrative long used by the Christian right in the United States and Europe.