U.S. President Donald Trump has issued another strong warning to Nigeria, suggesting that the United States could carry out additional military operations if what he described as the continued killing of Christians in the country does not stop.
Trump made the remarks during an interview with The New York Times, where he was asked whether recent Christmas Day missile strikes against Islamic State militants marked the beginning of a wider U.S. military campaign in Nigeria. While stopping short of formally declaring an expanded operation, Trump made it clear that further action remained on the table.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” Trump said. “But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.”
The missile strikes followed earlier comments by Trump in which he threatened to send U.S. forces into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to eliminate terrorists accused of targeting Christians. His statements echoed claims made by some American politicians who argue that Christians are facing genocide in parts of the West African nation.
However, the Nigerian government has strongly rejected such characterizations. Officials in Abuja have repeatedly insisted that the country’s security challenges are complex and not driven by religious persecution.
Ademola Oshodi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, described the U.S. strikes as a one-off event, emphasizing that Nigeria remains in control of its internal security situation.
Trump’s comments also appeared to contrast with earlier remarks made by his senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, who stated last October that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS had killed more Muslims than Christians in Nigeria. When asked about that assessment, Trump acknowledged that Muslims were also being killed but maintained that Christians were the primary victims.
“I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria,” Trump said. “But it’s mostly Christians.”
Following the Christmas Day strikes, flight-tracking data showed renewed U.S. intelligence and surveillance activity in and around Nigeria, fueling speculation about deeper American involvement in the region’s counterterrorism efforts.
The comments have added to diplomatic tensions, as Nigeria continues to push back against claims of religiously targeted violence while grappling with insurgency, banditry, and communal conflicts across several regions. Trump’s warning signals that the issue remains firmly on Washington’s radar, with potentially serious implications for U.S.–Nigeria relations if rhetoric turns into sustained military action.
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