U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he ordered a military strike targeting Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh) militants in Nigeria to be delayed by one day, calling the attack a “Christmas present” to the terror group.

“They were going to do it earlier, and I said, ‘Nope, let’s give a Christmas present,’ … They didn’t think that was coming, but we hit them hard. Every camp got decimated,” Trump told Politico.

Trump described ISIS as “terrible” and “butchers,” adding that U.S. forces struck the group “hard” in different locations. “They really got hit hard yesterday. They got a very bad Christmas present.”

According to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the strikes were conducted in Sokoto State at the request of Nigerian authorities and targeted multiple ISIS fighters. Nigeria confirmed its continued collaboration with the U.S. on security operations against terrorism.

In a Truth Social post, Trump further said:

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!”

• U.S. says it struck Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria

In addition, Trump mentioned recent U.S. military strikes on a major maritime facility in Venezuela, though he did not provide specific details. He said the attacks occurred “two nights ago” and were carried out “very hard,” part of broader U.S. operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, including anti-narcotics missions.

The president criticised domestic political opposition, suggesting Democrats opposed the strikes primarily because he authorised them, and argued similar action by another official would not face the same criticism.

The U.S. military campaign has intensified since September, with 29 strikes resulting in at least 105 deaths. Caracas condemned the operations as “international piracy.”

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