MAGA Reacts After Donald Trump's Nigeria Strikes
By: Mandy Taheri (Newsweek)
Donald Trump did not order an attack on Nigeria.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters are backing President Donald Trump's strikes reportedly against the Islamic State (ISIS) group in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas Day, who Trump said was "targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians."
Why It Matters
The U.S. strikes in Africa's most populous country mark a significant escalation in international involvement in Nigeria's ongoing battle with armed militants. It comes after Trump and his administration have repeatedly spoken out on violence against Christians in Nigeria. The Nigerian government confirmed on Friday it was also involved in the strikes.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly said terrorism in the country affects both Christians and Muslims and pushed back against claims of a "Christian genocide" there.
Though Trump campaigned on an "America First" platform, he has ordered major military action abroad, including strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June and a recent campaign in the Caribbean that has included attacks on vessels the administration has described as drug-smuggling boats. These strikes have killed over 100 people.
What To Know
In a Truth Social post on Christmas Day, Trump announced the military strikes writing: "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."
Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the country's cooperation with international partners in a statement posted to X on Friday.
Nigeria's population is roughly evenly split between Christians and Muslims, with Pew Research estimating a slightly higher share of the population is Muslim. The country has long faced insecurity, with religious and ethnic tensions, fraught local political dynamics and governance, economic stressors and competition for land resources often exacerbated by climate change and difficult environmental conditions.
In 2009, Boko Haram's insurgency to establish a caliphate in Nigeria and the broader Sahel region increased violence in the region and led to a government crackdown on the group. Since then, violence in Nigeria has involved multiple armed actors, including the Islamic State West Africa Province, as well as armed herders blamed for attacks in other parts of the country.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared a video of a strike being launched on his X account.
Some MAGA supporters praised the strikes, while critics have raised concerns about U.S. involvement overseas and the rationale for action in Nigeria. Trump has launched a series of international strikes since taking office in January, including on Yemen, Iran, in the Caribbean and Pacific, Syria, as well as Nigeria.
What People Are Saying
Laura Loomer said in an X post on December 25: "Today, on Christmas of all days, President Trump ordered deadly air strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria. Officials with the Department Of War tell me these strikes were done in coordination with the government of Nigeria as a direct response to ISIS jihadi terrorists killing Christians in Nigeria. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians through the justified mass killing of Islamic terrorists. You've got to love it! Death to all Islamic terrorists! Thank you, @PeteHegseth @POTUS!"
Representative Randy Fine, a Florida Republican, said in an X post on December 25: "Amazing Christmas present by @realDonaldTrump! With Muslim terrorists attacking Christians in Nigeria, Syria, and even Europe — simply for refusing to submit to Islam — the President is showing that we will no longer tolerate these barbarians."
Representative Andy Harris, a Maryland Republican, said in an X post on December 25: "This is strong and decisive leadership by our President standing up for the persecuted Christians and taking on ISIS. God bless our military. Merry Christmas."
Conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman reshared Pete Hegseth's November 1 X post warning the U.S. is preparing for action in Nigeria, writing on December 26: "They were warned."
Former Republican Representative Justin Amash said in an X post on Thursday: "There's no authority for strikes on terrorists in Nigeria or anywhere on earth. The 2001 AUMF is only for the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks. The War Powers Resolution doesn't grant any authority beyond the Constitution. Offensive military actions need congressional approval. The Framers of the Constitution divided war powers to protect the American people from war-eager executives. Whether the United States should engage in conflicts across the globe is a decision for the people's representatives in Congress, not the president."
Moe Davis, retired U.S. Air Force colonel and former Guantanamo chief prosecutor, said in an X post: "@realDonaldTrump does a deadly strike on ISIS in Nigeria for targeting Christians. What legal authority is there for an American president to unilaterally kill people in a foreign country for religious reasons? And will Congress continue to whistle past the graveyard?"
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegsethposted on X: "The President was clear last month: 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!"
Kenneth Roth, former Human Rights Watch executive director, said in an X post: "The only possible justification for a military intervention for humanitarian reasons is as a last resort to stop genocide or comparable mass slaughter. That does NOT describe Nigeria. Trump's military intervention is pure aggression."
Conservative activist Nick Sortor said in an X post: "The US military has just released video of them launching strikes on ISIS terrorists who're kiIIing Christians in Nigeria It'll get much, MUCH worse for these subhuman pieces of crap if they don't stop the kiIIing. President Trump ain't messing around!"
What Happens Next
Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its commitment to ongoing collaboration with international security partners to counter extremist threats in its Friday statement. Hegseth noted that there is "more to come" regarding the situation.
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An attack on ISIS is not the same thing as an attack on Nigeria. Just because ISIS in Nigeria attacks Muslims doesn't mean ISIS is not pursuing genocide of Christians in Nigeria. Christians in areas controlled by ISIS have been killed, forced to convert, or driven out. That's genocide.
Damn straight it is. And from our friends on the left here …. silence.
Really - anything positive from this administration sux 'cause it doesn't have mental midgets from the other side with appreciation for what they actually have.