Launches Christmas night airstrikes in Nigeria, frames military action as defending Christians

Trump announced U.S. launched airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas night targeting ISIS militants he accused of killing Christians. He called the operation 'decisive' and warned further attacks would follow if violence continues. Trump posted: 'Merry Christmas to the Christians in Nigeria and around the world who know tonight that the President of the United States will fight for them.' The military action was explicitly framed as protecting Christians, mixing religious messaging with military operations in an unprecedented way.