Trump launches Christmas night airstrikes on ISIS 'Terrorist Scum' in Nigeria after killings of Christians

President Donald Trump said nan U.S. launched airstrikes successful northwest Nigeria connected Christmas nighttime targeting ISIS militants he accused of sidesplitting Christians, calling nan cognition decisive and informing further attacks would travel if nan unit continues.

"Tonight, astatine my guidance arsenic Commander successful Chief, nan United States launched a powerful and deadly onslaught against ISIS Terrorist Scum successful Northwest Nigeria, who person been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, guiltless Christians, astatine levels not seen for galore years, and moreover Centuries!" Trump said Thursday connected Truth Social. 

"I person antecedently warned these Terrorists that if they did not extremity nan slaughtering of Christians, location would beryllium hellhole to pay, and tonight, location was. The Department of War executed galore cleanable strikes, arsenic only nan United States is tin of doing.

"Under my leadership, our Country will not let Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper," he continued. "May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including nan dormant Terrorists, of which location will beryllium galore much if their bulldoze of Christians continues."

‘GENOCIDE CAN’T BE IGNORED’: GOP LAWMAKER BACKS TRUMP’S THREAT OF MILITARY ACTION IN NIGERIA

A newspaper vendor pulls a newspaper pinch an article reporting U.S. President Donald Trump's connection to Nigeria complete nan curen of Christians, astatine a newspaper guidelines successful Ojuelegba, Lagos, Nigeria, Nov. 2, 2025.  (Reuters/Sodiq Adelakun)

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed nan attacks successful a station connected X connected Thursday night.

"At nan guidance of nan President of nan United States and nan Secretary of War, and successful coordination pinch Nigerian authorities, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists successful Nigeria connected Dec. 25, 2025, successful Sokoto State," nan station read.

U.S. Ambassador to nan U.N. Mike Waltz besides weighed successful aft learning astir nan strikes connected ISIS forces successful Nigeria.

"Merry Christmas to nan Christians successful Nigeria and astir nan world who cognize coming that nan President of nan United States will conflict for them," he said successful a station connected 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 besides person killed galore Americans."

Last month, Trump threatened to "do things successful Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to beryllium happy about" and "go into that now disgraced state guns-a-blazing."

TRUMP ADMIN TARGETS ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE WITH NEW VISA CRACKDOWN POLICY FOLLOWING NIGERIA ATTACKS

A drone position of Christians departing St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church aft Sunday wide successful Palmgrove, Lagos, Nigeria, Nov. 2, 2025.  (Reuters/Sodiq Adelakun)

That informing group nan shape for nan Christmas-night strikes, which Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said fulfilled nan president’s request that nan killings stop.

"The President was clear past month: nan sidesplitting of guiltless Christians successful Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end," Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said connected X. "The @DeptofWar is ever ready, truthful ISIS recovered retired coming — connected Christmas. More to come…

"Grateful for Nigerian authorities support & cooperation," he added. "Merry Christmas!"

Then, astir a period later, nan Trump management rolled retired a caller visa-restriction argumentation successful consequence to a activity of sadistic anti-Christian attacks successful Nigeria, targeting those accused of orchestrating belief unit against Christians successful nan West African federation and astir nan world.

TRUMP’S WARNING TO NIGERIA OFFERS HOPE TO NATION'S PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

President Donald Trump announced attacks against terrorists successful Nigeria, sidesplitting Christians.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said nan argumentation successful nan Immigration and Nationality Act will let nan State Department to contradict visas to those "who person directed, authorized, importantly supported, participated in, aliases carried retired violations of belief freedom." 

Immediate family members whitethorn besides look visa restrictions successful immoderate cases.

"The United States is taking decisive action successful consequence to nan wide killings and unit against Christians by extremist Islamic terrorists, Fulani taste militias, and different convulsive actors successful Nigeria and beyond," Rubio said successful nan statement.

The move followed a surge of attacks connected Christians and Christian institutions successful Nigeria. Last month, gunmen stormed nan Christ Apostolic Church successful Eruku, Kwara State, sidesplitting 2 group and kidnapping dozens. The 38 abducted worshipers were freed astir a week later.

Days later, equipped attackers raided St. Mary’s School in Niger State, abducting much than 300 students and staff. School officials said 50 students aged 10 to 18 escaped successful nan pursuing days, but 253 students and 12 teachers stay captive.

The unit prompted Trump to designate Nigeria a "country of peculiar concern," though nan Nigerian authorities disputes nan U.S. assessment.

"I’m really angry astir it," nan president told Fox News Radio past month. "What’s happening successful Nigeria is simply a disgrace."

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Echoing Trump’s warning, Rubio said earlier this month, "As President Trump made clear, nan ‘United States cannot guidelines by while specified atrocities are happening successful Nigeria and galore different countries.’"

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.