Former President Donald Trump sparked controversy on Christmas Day after claiming that U.S. forces carried out what he described as “perfect strikes” against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on December 25, Trump said the operation was conducted under his direction and framed it as a major success. He used inflammatory language, referring to ISIS members as “terrorist scum,” and tied the alleged strikes to the protection of Christians in the region.
According to Trump, the attacks were aimed at ISIS-linked militants who he claimed had been “targeting and viciously killing innocent Christians.” He asserted that he had previously warned such groups to stop the violence and suggested the Christmas Day action was a follow-through on that threat.
He also used the term “Department of War” instead of the Pentagon, a phrase not officially used by the U.S. government, and claimed the strikes were executed flawlessly, saying only the United States is capable of such operations. The post concluded with a holiday message that included a provocative remark about “dead terrorists,” further fueling backlash online.
Notably, no independent confirmation or detailed briefing from the Pentagon or U.S. Africa Command has been released to support Trump’s claims. As of now, there are no official statements verifying that U.S. military strikes took place in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, nor clarification about the scale, targets, or authorization of such an operation.
Despite the lack of corroboration, Trump’s post gained rapid traction on social media, drawing thousands of likes within an hour and igniting debate over the accuracy of his claims, the use of violent rhetoric, and the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy and counterterrorism efforts in Africa.
As with many of Trump’s recent statements, critics are urging caution, pointing out the importance of relying on verified sources and official confirmations rather than social media declarations—especially when they involve military action, international sovereignty, and human lives.
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