President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could carry out further military strikes in Nigeria if killings of Christians continue, despite repeated denials by Nigerian authorities that Christians are being systematically targeted. Trump made the remarks in an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, when asked about a US military strike carried out in Nigeria on Christmas Day.
The US military said the operation targeted Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria and was conducted at the request of the Nigerian government. Nigerian officials described the action as a joint operation against “terrorists,” insisting it was not connected to any religious group. However, Trump suggested the strikes could expand if violence against Christians persists, saying he would prefer a one-time action but warning that continued killings would prompt repeated military responses.
Pressed on comments by his Africa adviser that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates have killed more Muslims than Christians in Nigeria, Trump acknowledged that Muslims were also victims but insisted Christians were disproportionately affected. Since late October, Trump has repeatedly claimed that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria and has threatened US military intervention over what he describes as the Nigerian government’s failure to protect Christian communities.