# Trump's war on Christmas **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [December 26, 2025, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057 "2025-12-26T00:25:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/1 "2025-12-26T00:25:23Z")
Our President of Peace is trying, anyway. > **[Trump says US struck Islamic State targets in Nigeria](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-says-us-struck-islamic-234949433.html)** > > President Donald Trump said Thursday night that he’d launched a “powerful and deadly strike” against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, after he spent weeks decrying the group for targeting Christians. If he was serious, he’d attack someone who could fight back. like his buddy Putin does. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/2 "2025-12-26T00:49:43Z")
I guess we should prepare for somewhere being nuked to celebrate Easter. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/3 "2025-12-26T00:51:19Z")
Donald actually wrote: > [@](#): > > MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists As noted in the previous post link, the U.S. military claims we “conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities.” We may find out whether they agree with this. Maybe they will because is it risky for a foreign nation’s leaders to cross Mr. Trump. Or maybe we are really are helping the government destroy its enemies, anti-Christian or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/4 "2025-12-26T00:55:09Z")
The song Happy Christmas came to mind. Of course this is something he would do. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/5 "2025-12-26T00:56:23Z")
Honestly, Nigeria is a friendly country with a real problem with Boko Haram and other Islamist terrorist groups. While I by no means believe that you can defeat a terrorist group with a bombing campaign, if we’re asked to hit a camp or something and we can do it with some missiles or drones, I’d say it’s worth doing as long as we’re not being lied to about the target. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/6 "2025-12-26T01:07:01Z")
This is Donald Trump. The likelihood we’re being lied to is nearly 100% (or, since it’s Trump, 500%, 600%, even 1000%! Lies like the world has never seen). ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/7 "2025-12-26T01:12:36Z")
In this case, lied to by the Nigerian government. I don’t really care what Trump says. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/8 "2025-12-26T02:01:44Z")
[DW.com](http://DW.com) says the Nigeria Foreign Ministry, on X, confirmed the attack and seems to agree with it:. Here is the link: [Press Release](https://x.com/NigeriaMFA/status/2004346591403180167) ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/9 "2025-12-26T02:21:29Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > . . . . if we’re asked to hit a camp or something and we can do it with some missiles or drones, I’d say it’s worth doing as long as we’re not being lied to about the target. Nigeria has an air force. If bombing their own country is fine with them, why didn’t they hit the targets on their own? Maybe the answer is that the camps have an anti-aircraft defense that the U.S. can defeat but the Nigerians cannot. But there are other possibilities, such as that the U.S. insisted on U.S. bombing because the U.S. strongman leader ordered it, and the Nigerians either have to act as if they like it, or give up any influence they may have in Washington. Eventually we will know the real story, but I have no idea when. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/10 "2025-12-26T04:15:16Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Donald actually wrote: > > > [@](#): > > > > MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > The song Happy Christmas came to mind. Actually what came to mind for me was [Achmed the Dead Terrorist’s _Jingle Bombs_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH1Zaef7XXA&t=7s). ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/11 "2025-12-26T06:05:41Z")
I wondered if there was a thread about the war ON Christmas here. We can all agree that ISIS are bad guys, but IMHO this isn’t our battle to fight. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/12/25/trump-bombing-nigeria-isis/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/12/25/trump-bombing-nigeria-isis/) ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/12 "2025-12-26T09:27:04Z")
I’d like to know how many US citizens think Trump’s messages represent their views. The man seemed on a trip in more than one way yesterday when he said “Merry Christmas to all including the terrorists.” ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/13 "2025-12-26T12:43:46Z")
From The NY Times: > An insurgency there has gone on for more than a decade, killing thousands of Christians and Muslims across sectarian lines. The Nigerian authorities have rejected allegations of a Christian genocide, noting that the web of violent armed groups, with different motives and spread across the country, kills as many Muslims as Christians. > > However, Nigerian officials have stepped up engagement with the U.S. in recent weeks, after Mr. Trump [ordered](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/world/africa/trump-nigeria-military-christians.html?searchResultPosition=1) the Defense Department in November to prepare to intervene militarily in Nigeria to protect Christians. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/14 "2025-12-27T01:32:36Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Mr. Trump [ordered](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/world/africa/trump-nigeria-military-christians.html?searchResultPosition=1) the Defense Department in November to prepare to intervene militarily in Nigeria to protect Christians. But not Ukrainian Christians? Why Donny? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/15 "2025-12-27T02:04:31Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > > [@JKellyMap](#): > > > > Mr. Trump [ordered](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/world/africa/trump-nigeria-military-christians.html?searchResultPosition=1) the Defense Department in November to prepare to intervene militarily in Nigeria to protect Christians. > > But not Ukrainian Christians? Why Donny? I do not exactly know what Trump ordered. But looking at Nigerian media, it sounds like the areas bombed were ones in which whatever violence they experience is Muslim on Muslim. Also consider: [US Airstrikes Hit Wrong Target In Sokoto — Security Expert](https://leadership.ng/us-airstrikes-hit-wrong-target-in-sokoto-security-expert/) > [@](#): > > “We welcome U.S interventions to assist Nigeria, but certainly Jabo community in Sokoto was a wrong target for ISWAP, Boko Haram or ISIS who are known to be operating in the North East Nigeria,” he said. > > “Even JNIM a.k.a Lakurawa do not have any base in North West,” Makama added. > > Addressing narratives around religious violence, the security expert stressed that the affected community poses no threat to Christians, noting that the area is predominantly Muslims and has itself been a victim of banditry. On the plus side, I have not found any definitive evidence of deaths, civilian or otherwise. There was some damage to civilian homes. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/16 "2025-12-27T02:24:32Z")
Meanwhile, Trump’s comms people are praying he never gets asked to say the word “Nigeria” on a live mic. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/17 "2025-12-27T03:56:27Z")
Or better yet, Niger. (It’s actually pronounced nee-zhair, too.) ---
**Author:** ![betonbill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b782af/32.png) [@betonbill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betonbill)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/18 "2025-12-27T16:40:22Z")
Of course, all of this is encouraged by his manic Sec’y of Defense/War who is sooo eager to bomb anything that moves to fulfill his GI Joe dreams. I believe that Trump was all for bombing stuff during Trump 101, but discouraged by people who knew better. Now he has a real warmonger on his side, so it’s “let ‘er rip, damn the consequences.” ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/19 "2025-12-27T16:51:14Z")
I think Heard Island and McDonald Islands might be next. They are refusing to pay the tariffs. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057/20 "2026-01-02T06:08:02Z")
Good luck with that. They’re uninhabited Australian territory. > **[Heard Island and McDonald Islands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heard_Island_and_McDonald_Islands)** > > The Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) is an Australian external territory comprising a volcanic group of mostly barren Antarctic islands, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica. The group's overall land area is 372 km2 (144 sq mi) and it has 101.9 km (63 mi) of coastline. Discovered in the mid-19th century, the islands lie on the Kerguelen Plateau in the southern Indian Ocean and have been an Australian territory since 1947. > Heard Island and McDonald Isl... [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-war-on-christmas/1026057.md?page=2)