Trump Orders U.S. Strike on ISIS-Linked Militants in Nigeria, Citing Christian Persecution

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has ordered a U.S. military strike against an ISIS-linked militant group operating in northern Nigeria, marking one of the most direct U.S. interventions tied explicitly to the persecution of Christians abroad during his presidency.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the Christmas Day strike targeted militants in Nigeria’s Sokoto region who he accused of “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” The president said the action followed repeated warnings to both the militant group and Nigeria’s leadership, asserting that the United States would act if the violence continued.

“These terrorists were warned,” Trump wrote, describing the group as “terrorist scum” and framing the strike as retaliation meant to deter further attacks on Christian communities.

The White House move comes amid years of mounting concern from U.S. lawmakers, advocacy groups, and faith leaders over escalating violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions, where armed groups linked to ISIS and Boko Haram have carried out attacks on villages, churches, and Christian civilians. Thousands of Christians have been killed over the past decade, according to human rights organizations and church leaders on the ground.

Yet, despite the death toll, official international bodies — including the United Nations and other global watchdogs — have stopped short of formally declaring a “Christian persecution crisis” in Nigeria, often categorizing the violence instead as generalized terrorism, communal conflict, or resource-driven clashes. That distinction has long frustrated U.S. conservatives, religious freedom advocates, and some African Christian leaders, who argue the religious targeting is deliberate and systematic.

Trump has repeatedly criticized Nigeria’s government for failing to protect Christian minorities, accusing its leaders of inaction while violence persists. The strike signals a shift from diplomatic pressure to direct military deterrence, a move the administration says is narrowly focused on terrorist actors rather than the Nigerian state itself.

The issue has also reverberated beyond traditional diplomatic channels, spilling into pop culture and global advocacy spaces. Rapper Nicki Minaj previously drew attention for condemning violence against Christians in Nigeria during remarks at the United Nations, urging stronger international deterrence. More recently, Minaj appeared at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix, sharing the stage with conservative activist Erica Kirk, a move that sparked backlash from fans and critics alike.

Following that appearance, Minaj reportedly lost more than 10,000 Instagram followers, prompting her to temporarily shut down her account — a reminder of how deeply polarizing faith, foreign policy, and politics have become in the public square.

For the Trump administration, the Nigeria strike reinforces a broader message it has pushed consistently: that religious freedom, particularly the protection of Christians, is a national security concern, not just a humanitarian one. Whether the military action alters conditions on the ground — or shifts how international institutions frame the crisis — remains an open question.