Trump Says U.S. ‘Could’ Launch Military Operation in Nigeria Over Christian Killings

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again raised the possibility of a military operation in Nigeria, saying he is considering “many options” in response to the reported killings of Christians in the country.

Speaking to an AFP correspondent aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump was asked whether U.S. involvement could include troops on the ground or air strikes.

“Could be, I mean, a lot of things — I envisage a lot of things,” Trump said.

“They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen,” he added.

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His comments came a day after he posted an explosive statement on Truth Social, claiming he had instructed the Pentagon to “map out a possible plan of attack” in Nigeria. Trump had earlier warned that Christianity faces an existential threat in Africa’s most populous nation.

“If the Nigerian government doesn’t stop the killings, the United States will attack — and it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians,” Trump wrote.

Nigeria — which is roughly evenly divided between a Muslim-majority north and a Christian-majority south — has for years battled violent insurgencies and communal conflicts that analysts say have claimed lives across religious and ethnic lines.

Reacting to Trump’s remarks, Daniel Bwala, spokesperson for Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said Nigeria remains “a U.S. partner in the global fight against terrorism.”

“Nigeria welcomes U.S. support to fight terrorism as long as it respects our territorial integrity,” Bwala told AFP from Washington.

“We do not see the (Trump’s social media post) in the literal sense. We know that Donald Trump has his own style of communication,” he added, suggesting Trump’s comments may be intended to “force a sit-down between the two leaders” to coordinate counterterrorism efforts.

Bwala hinted that a meeting between Trump and Tinubu could happen soon, saying any “differences in perspective” about whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or all faiths “would be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet, either in the State House or White House.”

Meanwhile, President Tinubu dismissed claims that Christians are being deliberately targeted more than other groups, stating that such a portrayal “does not reflect our national reality.”

“The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect who we are,” Tinubu said in a post on Saturday.

Trump’s renewed comments underscore growing diplomatic tension between Washington and Abuja over the framing of Nigeria’s security crisis, even as both governments signal openness to dialogue.

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