United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning that the U.S. military could conduct additional strikes in Nigeria if the targeted killing of Christians in the country continues.
In an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, January 8, 2026, the President signaled a potentially more interventionist stance toward Nigeria’s security crisis, citing the protection of religious minorities as a primary motivator.
Trump’s remarks follow a significant U.S. military operation on Christmas Day 2024, which targeted Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwest Nigeria.
While that specific operation was conducted at the invitation of the Nigerian government, Trump indicated that future actions might be tied specifically to the frequency of religious-based violence.
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike,” Trump said during the interview. “But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.”
This rhetoric marks a escalation from his comments in late October, where he warned that Christianity faced an “existential threat” in Africa’s most populous nation and suggested military intervention might be necessary if the Nigerian government failed to stem the tide of violence.
His comments have reignited a sensitive debate regarding the nature of the insurgency in Nigeria.
While Trump’s own Africa advisers have pointed out that militant groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) have killed more Muslims than Christians in their decade-long campaign, Trump remained firm in his assessment.
“I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria,” Trump acknowledged. “But it’s mostly Christians.”
The warning comes as the Trump administration continues to reshape U.S. foreign policy around "America First" principles and the protection of global religious freedom.
