Republicans praise Trump's Christmas Day airstrikes on radical targets in Nigeria

WASHINGTON, DC: Several Republican lawmakers publicly praised President Donald Trump, following the airstrikes targeting I**S m****ants in the northwest region of Nigeria on Christmas Day.

The strikes were carried out in coordination with the Nigerian authorities after President Trump accused the group of killing Christians in the region.

US Africa Command later confirmed the operation, describing it as a response to requests from Nigeria's government. The military action drew swift reaction from GOP officials, who framed it as necessary to protect civilians and religious minorities in the area.

GOP hail strikes as 'decisive' response to violence 

Multiple Republican Lawmakers took to social media to commend the Trump administration for authorizing the Christmas Day strikes.

Rep Bill Huizenga (R-Mich), who recently led a congressional delegation to Nigeria, said the trip highlighted shifting attitudes within the Nigerian government toward protecting vulnerable communities. 

“The Congressional Delegation I led to Nigeria this past weekend provided insight that some attitudes inside the Nigerian Government are beginning to turn in favor of protecting Christians,” Huizenga wrote on X.

Sen Tedd Budd (R-NC) echoed those remarks, saying, “I**S is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Christians & religious minorities in Nigeria. @POTUS’s decisive strikes will save lives & protect religious freedom. May God bless our brave men & women in uniform.”

Rep Riley Moore (R-WVa) framed the strikes as a warning against continued violence. “President Trump has been clear that the killing of Christians in Nigeria must end,” Moore wrote.

“As I stated at the outset: Do not test President Trump’s resolved in this matter. Tonight’s strike in coordination with the Nigerian government is just the first step to ending the sl**ghter of Christians and the security crisis affecting all Nigerians.” 

Rep Don Bacon (R-Neb) described the military's action as "right," saying, "to intervene saves innocent lives. We praise our military for working around the clock to include Christmas.”

Trump and Nigerian officials confirm the attack  

President Trump announced the strikes on Thursday, on Truth Social, stating that the operation targeted I**S m****ants responsible for the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

In the post, the POTUS wrote, "Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the US launched a powerful and deadly strike against I**S Te***rist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”

He added that he had previously warned the group to halt the violence, writing, “If they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said in a statement that the country’s counter-ter**rism efforts prioritize civilian protection.

“Nigeria’s counter-t*****ism efforts are guided by the primacy of protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity,” he said.

US Africa Command (Africom) later confirmed the operation, saying that the strikes were conducted “at the request of Nigerian authorities in Soboto State killing multiple I**S ter**rists.”

Africom added, “Lethal strikes against I**S demonstrate the strength of our military and our commitment to eliminating t*****ist threats against Americans at home and abroad.”