President Donald Trump ordered the United States military to carry out strikes on ISIS targets in Africa on Christmas Day, saying that he had warned them to stop the systematic slaughter of Christians and they had not heeded that warning.
Trump shared the news first in a post to his Truth Social platform, saying that the War Department had — on his orders — carried out a number of “perfect strikes” on targets throughout Northwest Nigeria.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump posted, adding, “I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”
“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing,” he continued. “Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. 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.”
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“The President was clear last month,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth added. “The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!”
Just hours before President Trump confirmed that the strikes had taken place, the War Department posted a Christmas message that served as a reminder that the United States military did not rest just because it was a holiday.
“Christmas night, 1776… The world slept while Washington crossed the Delaware. We carry his legacy,” the post read, and included an image of then-General George Washington and his men crossing the Delaware River.
Christmas night, 1776…
The world slept while Washington crossed the Delaware.
We carry his legacy. https://t.co/eFRDAwfewO pic.twitter.com/ePUt394Qdj
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) December 25, 2025
On Christmas night of 1776, Washington led some 2,400 men in crossing the treacherously icy Delaware River. They surprised an encampment of Hessian soldiers — Germans fighting for the crown — near Trenton, where they won a decisive victory and took some 900 of the Hessians prisoner. Two other generals were supposed to cross the Delaware that same day — one to harass other troops in the area and prevent them from providing backup and another to prevent the Hessians a safe avenue of retreat — but only Washington and his men were able to make it across the river.
