The United States on Thursday carried out Christmas Day military strikes against purported ISIS targets in Nigeria, with President Donald Trump citing the group’s attacks on Christian communities as the reason for the operation.
As Trump’s announcement spread across social media, it moved through the same digital ecosystem where artists like Nicki Minaj now openly agreed with his promoted political narratives. Minaj’s public support of Trump has reshaped how fans interpret moments when foreign policy, religion and celebrity messaging intersect, even in the absence of direct commentary on the attacks. U.S. Africa Command (United States Africa Command) said the strikes were conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities and resulted in the deaths of multiple ISIS fighters. These reports have not been independently verified.
AFRICOM commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson said the U.S. military is working with Nigeria and regional partners to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation amid ongoing violence targeting civilians. Trump referenced comments he made in November, when he warned that military action could follow if attacks against Christians continued. Nigeria acknowledged the strikes Thursday and said it remains engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, to address terrorism and violent extremism.