Nationwide — Trump has ordered the Defense Department to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria and warned he could cut U.S. aid, saying attacks on Christians demand a fast response, while Nigeria’s government pushed back against the claim.
According to CNN, Trump made the warning in a social media post that said the United States could “immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria” and might go in “guns-a-blazing” to target militants he called “Islamic Terrorists.” The comments followed his redesignation of Nigeria on a U.S. religious freedom watch list.
U.S. officials and commentators note that violence in Nigeria is complex: Islamist groups have attacked communities, but many violent incidents stem from clashes over land, cattle, and local rivalries, and both Christians and Muslims have been victims. Local reporting shows large numbers of Muslim casualties in some regions.
Nigeria’s president called the U.S. characterization unfair and said his government works with international partners to protect people of all faiths. A presidential spokesman and other officials rejected the idea that the country tolerates targeted killings of Christians.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted support for Trump’s order, writing that the military was “preparing for action.” The remark echoed the president’s blunt message: either Nigeria steps up protection for vulnerable communities, or the United States will act.
The move raises questions about how the United States would act inside a sovereign country and what checks or consultations would follow before any operation. U.S. and Nigerian officials said they were open to talking, while analysts urged careful verification of casualty claims.