Trump says U.S. military action in Nigeria could involve ground troops or air strikes

United States President Donald Trump has hinted that the U.S. could deploy troops or carry out airstrikes in Nigeria to stop what he described as the “killing of large numbers of Christians” in the country.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said he was considering “all options,” suggesting that both air and ground operations were on the table.

According to Reuters, when asked whether he envisioned “troops on the ground or air strikes in Nigeria,” Trump responded:

“Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria … They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen.”

The remarks mark one of Trump’s strongest indications yet of possible direct U.S. military involvement in Nigeria — a move that could heighten diplomatic tensions and spark debate over Washington’s approach to foreign interventions in Africa.

On Friday, Trump announced that he had redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” in response to what he called ongoing “genocide against Christians.”

Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote:

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ — but that is the least of it.”

He went on to warn that if the Nigerian government “continues to allow the killing of Christians,” the U.S. could halt all forms of aid and take direct military action.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump said.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet — just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians.”

Nigeria Responds: ‘No Genocide, No Religious War’

The Nigerian government swiftly dismissed Trump’s claims, describing them as inaccurate and misleading.

President Bola Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and that his administration continues to protect the rights of citizens of all faiths.

“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu said.

He added that since assuming office in 2023, his administration has maintained open engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders while addressing the broader security challenges confronting the nation.

“Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions,” he stated.

Tinubu rejected what he called a “mischaracterisation of Nigeria’s religious landscape by external observers,” insisting that such claims fail to reflect the country’s diversity and the government’s efforts toward peaceful coexistence.

“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and belief for all Nigerians,” he said.