Trump Says U.S. Strikes in Nigeria Were to Protect Christians

Key takeaways

U.S. military intervention in Nigeria is aimed at protecting Christians from ISIS, although the Nigerian government disagrees with this framing.
Zelensky's meeting with Trump represents ongoing diplomatic attempts to secure future support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Kennedy's influence on public health policy under Trump may have significant ramifications for public trust in vaccines and could sway midterm election outcomes.
Economic indicators such as thin trading and rising commodity prices reflect ongoing market concerns, particularly about inflation.

Summary

U.S. Military Strikes in Nigeria

President Trump announced that the U.S. conducted strikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria on Christmas Day, claiming the intent was to protect the Christian population from ISIS attacks. This statement has sparked controversy as the Nigerian government stated that the strikes were not aimed at any specific religious group and highlighted that the terrorist actions affect both Christians and Muslims alike. Alexandra Wexler reported on the differences in perspectives between U.S. and Nigerian officials regarding the nature of violence in the region and noted the collaboration between the two governments during the strikes.

Zelensky's Meeting with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed plans to meet with President Trump in Florida to discuss ending the ongoing war with Russia. The upcoming talks are expected to cover crucial security guarantees for Ukraine and an economic agreement, highlighting the continual diplomatic efforts in the region amid global tensions.

Health Policy and the Make America Healthy Again Movement

Sabrina Siddiqui analyzed significant changes in health policies under the Trump administration, focusing particularly on the actions of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic. Kennedy's approach dramatically reshapes U.S. vaccine policy, casting doubt on traditional recommendations and influencing public perception. Siddiqui pointed out that these dynamics are crucial as the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement becomes increasingly relevant in shaping Republican strategies for the upcoming midterms.

The Economic State and Market Reactions

The podcast noted that stock trading was particularly thin following the Christmas holiday, with major U.S. indices reflecting stability in midday trading. Meanwhile, commodities like silver and gold futures reached new heights amid concerns over inflation, capturing investor interest during uncertain economic times.

Show notes

P.M. Edition for Dec. 26. President Trump says the U.S. launched strikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria to protect Christians–but Nigeria disagrees, saying the strikes weren’t aimed at protecting any particular religious group. We hear from WSJ reporter Alexandra Wexler about how Nigeria is approaching the issue. Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he’ll meet with President Trump in Florida over the weekend for talks on the plan to end the war with Russia. And WSJ national politics reporter Sabrina Siddiqui discusses changes to health policy under the Trump administration and how the “Make America Healthy Again” movement could affect next year’s midterms. Alex Ossola hosts.

Programming note: What’s News is publishing once a day through Jan. 2.

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