Trump threatens more strikes in Nigeria if attacks on Christians continue
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning that the United States could launch additional military strikes in Nigeria if the targeted killing of Christians continues. Speaking in an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, January 8, 2026, Trump signaled a more interventionist stance, following the Christmas Day missile strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Sokoto State. He noted that while he would prefer a “one-time strike,” he is prepared for a “many-time strike” if religious-based violence persists.
The warning comes on the heels of the U.S. military’s December 25 operation, which involved 16 GPS-guided missiles launched from MQ-9 Reaper drones and Tomahawk cruise missiles targeting jihadist camps. While Trump labeled the operation a response to the “genocide against Christians,” the Nigerian government has pushed back on this narrative. Ademola Oshodi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, emphasized that the strike was a “joint operation” and remains under Nigerian sovereign discretion, aimed broadly at terrorists rather than any specific religious conflict.
Nigeria has consistently dismissed claims that Christians are being uniquely targeted, noting that extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have killed thousands of Muslims as well. Trump’s own senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, previously echoed this sentiment, stating that these groups often kill more Muslims than Christians. However, when confronted with this in his latest interview, Trump maintained his focus, acknowledging that Muslims are killed but asserting, “it’s mostly Christians.”
The U.S. administration’s rhetoric has escalated significantly since late 2025, when Trump first designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC). He had previously threatened to deploy troops “guns-a-blazing” to protect Christian communities, a move that prompted Nigerian Information Minister Mohammed Idris Malagi to urge Washington to understand the “complex realities” of Nigeria’s internal security. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that violence against any faith is an affront to national values.
Domestically, the strikes have become a point of political leverage for both administrations. In the U.S., the move is seen as an appeal to evangelical voters who have grown increasingly concerned about reports of religious persecution in the Middle Belt. In Nigeria, the Tinubu administration is attempting to balance the benefits of U.S. military intelligence and hardware with the need to protect national sovereignty against what some local critics call “unilateral interventionism.”
As the January 2026 deadline for a review of Nigeria’s security situation approaches, the U.S. State Department has already begun implementing visa restrictions on individuals suspected of being involved in religious-based violence. The White House has also hinted at weighing further military engagements, including the potential sale of $345 million in rockets and missiles to Abuja, provided certain human rights benchmarks are met.
The situation remains fluid as both nations navigate a partnership that is increasingly defined by the tension between counter-terrorism cooperation and religious diplomacy. While the Nigerian government continues to treat the Christmas Day strikes as a strategic success against “terrorist scum,” Trump’s latest comments suggest that future U.S. support may be explicitly tied to the protection of Nigeria’s Christian population.
