‘Muslims Are Also Being Killed in Nigeria’, Trump Admits

“Muslims Are Also Being Killed in Nigeria,” Trump Admits

United States President Donald Trump has publicly acknowledged that Muslims are also victims of violence in Nigeria, a statement that marks a shift from his earlier emphasis on Christian persecution.

The admission came in the wake of recent U.S. military action in Nigeria, where American forces carried out airstrikes against jihadist camps in Sokoto State, a predominantly Muslim region near the Niger border.

The strikes, conducted on Christmas Day, targeted camps operated by a group identified as Lakurawa. While casualty figures have not been released by either U.S. or Nigerian authorities, the operation has drawn widespread international attention.

Pope Leo XIV condemned the attacks, criticizing what he described as the growing trend of powerful nations, including the United States and Russia, launching strikes on sovereign states.

Trump’s comments followed mounting pressure from American politicians who have repeatedly claimed that Christians in Nigeria are facing genocide. In November, Trump threatened to send U.S. troops “guns-a-blazing” to eliminate terrorists allegedly targeting Christians.

However, his senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, had earlier noted that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS were killing more Muslims than Christians. Responding to that assessment, Trump conceded: “I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians.”

In an interview with The New York Times, Trump suggested that further military action remains possible, stating: “I’d love to make it a one-time strike. But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike.” This remark underscores his administration’s readiness to escalate involvement in Nigeria’s security crisis if violence persists.

Nigeria’s government has consistently rejected accusations that it is failing to protect Christians, while also expressing willingness to cooperate with the United States and allied nations to address the broader security challenges posed by extremist groups.

The acknowledgment that Muslims are also victims of violence adds nuance to the narrative, highlighting the complex and multifaceted nature of Nigeria’s ongoing conflict.

The situation remains tense, with uncertainty over whether further U.S. military action will follow. Trump’s admission, though brief, has reframed the discourse by recognizing that both Christians and Muslims are suffering in Nigeria’s protracted struggle against extremist violence.

This report captures the key developments, international reactions, and implications of Trump’s statement on Nigeria’s crisis.