Labeling Trump a “reckless American tyrant” swayed by “evangelical Christian and Jewish advisers,” ISWAP accused the U.S. of positioning itself as the “global defender of Christians.” 

The militants argued that such statements could pull America into wider conflicts, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique, where jihadist attacks have caused significant deaths.

ISWAP framed this as part of the Islamic State’s strategy to overextend U.S. forces across multiple fronts, pointing to ongoing battlegrounds in Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan, and the Lake Chad Basin.

In a direct order to its members and global affiliates, the group instructed fighters to steer clear of large assemblies, restrict travel, and minimize smartphone usage amid fears of heightened U.S. drone surveillance and strikes.

The statement also urged Muslims across West Africa to rally in unity against the perceived U.S. threat, condemning the West for alleged “crimes against African Muslims.”