“Merry Christmas To Dead Terrorists,” Trump Says After Sokoto Airstrike
United States President Donald Trump has drawn widespread attention following remarks he made after an airstrike targeting terrorist elements in Nigeria’s North-West, particularly around the Sokoto axis.
In a statement released on Thursday, Trump disclosed that he approved the military operation, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of several terrorists. Striking a controversial tone, he ended his remarks by wishing the killed militants “Merry Christmas,” a comment that has since sparked debate and reactions online.
Announcing the operation, Trump said the strike was carried out on his directive as Commander in Chief and was aimed at terrorists he described as affiliated with ISIS. He alleged that the group had been targeting and killing innocent civilians, especially Christians, in the region.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria,” Trump said. He added that the attacks on civilians had reached levels “not seen for many years.”
Trump further claimed he had previously warned the group to stop the violence, stating that consequences would follow if the killings continued. According to him, the operation involved what he described as “numerous perfect strikes,” carried out by the U.S. military.
“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing,” he said, reiterating his long-standing position against what he termed radical Islamic terrorism.
Concluding his statement, Trump said: “May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”
The comments come amid ongoing discussions in Nigeria over foreign involvement in counterterrorism operations, as well as concerns about sovereignty, security cooperation, and the humanitarian impact of military actions in conflict-affected regions.
