- Kinzinger, a vocal Trump critic, endorsed Trump’s Christmas Day airstrikes on ISIS in northwest Nigeria as the "right call."
- Legal, ethical and congressional concerns arose over unilateral strikes framed as protecting Christians, amid broader US-Nigerian counterterror cooperation.
In a surprising turn that cuts across deep political divides, former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger has publicly supported President Donald Trump’s order for U.S. airstrikes against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria.
Kinzinger, long one of Trump’s most outspoken critics in the GOP, called the move the “right call” while taking a swipe at how it was announced.
The strikes, carried out on Christmas Day, targeted ISIS militants accused of escalating attacks in the region.
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Trump personally announced the operation on Truth Social, framing it as a direct response to violence primarily affecting Christians.
Kinzinger posted on X: “Anywhere ISIS exists and operates should never be safe for them.
Nigeria has been combatting these terrorists and requested assistance, and it was the right call to strike them. May the ISIS flag never fly over controlled territory again.”
In a follow-up, he added: “Announces like a weirdo.”
This rare praise from Kinzinger highlights how national security issues, particularly the fight against ISIS, can occasionally bridge partisan gaps—even for someone who voted to impeach Trump after January 6 and has remained a vocal opponent.
The Strike: What Happened
President Trump detailed the operation in a lengthy Truth Social post:
“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!
I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.
The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.
Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.
May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the strikes were conducted “in coordination with Nigerian authorities.”
Their initial assessment indicated multiple ISIS terrorists were killed.
General Dagvin Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command, stated: “U.S. Africa Command is working with Nigerian and regional partners to increase counterterrorism cooperation efforts related to on-going violence and threats against innocent lives.
Our goal is to protect Americans and to disrupt violent extremist organizations wherever they are.”
The operation focused on areas in Sokoto state, where groups linked to ISIS, including offshoots like Lakurawa (formerly Islamic State – Sahel Province) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have been active.
Reactions Across the Spectrum
While Kinzinger offered qualified support, not all anti-Trump voices agreed. Former Representative Justin Amash of Michigan wrote on X: “It’s sad this even needs to be stated: To carry out an offensive military action in another country, the approval the president of the United States needs is from the Congress of the United States, not from a foreign government.”
Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Morris “Moe” Davis questioned the legal basis, posting:
“@realDonaldTrump does a deadly strike on ISIS in Nigeria for targeting Christians.
What legal authority is there for an American president to unilaterally kill people in a foreign country for religious reasons?
And will Congress continue to whistle past the graveyard?”
On the other side, MAGA supporters cheered the move.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared video of the strikes, noting more could follow and expressing gratitude for Nigerian cooperation.
Voices like Laura Loomer and Representative Randy Fine hailed it as a strong stand against terrorism targeting Christians.
Nigeria’s Security Crisis
Nigeria has grappled with jihadist insurgencies for years, stemming from groups like Boko Haram and its splinter factions affiliated with ISIS.
Violence in the northwest, including Sokoto, has intensified recently, with militants using forests as bases for attacks, kidnappings, and extortion.
The Nigerian government welcomed the strikes as part of ongoing cooperation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized “structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States,” in combating terrorism.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris described the operation as targeting enclaves in the Bauni forest used for planning large-scale attacks.
Experts note the situation is complex.
While some attacks target religious sites, including churches and mosques, much of the violence involves bandits, herder-farmer clashes, and ethnic tensions.
Data from monitoring groups shows thousands of civilian deaths annually, affecting both Muslims and Christians in northern regions.
Trump has spotlighted Christian persecution in Nigeria for months, threatening aid cuts and military action if the government didn’t do more.
This strike follows through on those warnings, marking an escalation in U.S. involvement in West Africa.
Kinzinger’s Complicated Relationship with Trump
Kinzinger’s praise stands out given his history. He was one of only ten Republicans to vote for Trump’s first impeachment and served on the January 6 committee.
He’s frequently criticized Trump as unfit and dangerous to democracy.
Yet on foreign policy matters like counterterrorism, Kinzinger—a veteran himself—has occasionally found common ground, similar to past support for actions against Iranian figures.
This moment underscores how ISIS remains a unifying threat, even in a polarized America.
What’s Next?
AFRICOM and Nigerian forces continue joint efforts, with potential for more operations if threats persist.
The strikes could disrupt ISIS networks short-term but won’t resolve deeper issues like poverty, governance, and regional instability fueling extremism.
As global attention turns to these developments, the rare Kinzinger-Trump alignment serves as a reminder that some threats transcend politics.
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