US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that he prevented a war between India and Pakistan during the first year of his second term, asserting that the two nuclear-armed neighbours were on the brink of nuclear conflict and that his intervention saved millions of lives.
Speaking at a White House press conference marking one year since his return to office on January 20, 2025, Trump listed the India-Pakistan standoff among what he described as eight long-running conflicts that he said were resolved under his leadership.
“These were unendable wars. Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, the Congo and Rwanda. Pakistan and India were really going at it. Eight planes were shot down. They were going to go nuclear in my opinion,” Trump said.
Addressing reporters in a packed briefing room, Trump claimed that Pakistan’s prime minister, who visited Washington last year, told him that his actions had saved “10 million people, and maybe much more.” Trump repeated the assertion later during the press conference, which lasted more than 100 minutes.
“If you look at India and Pakistan, that could have been 10, 15 or 20 million people, maybe more. So I saved millions of people,” Trump said while responding to a question on how winning the Nobel Peace Prize would benefit ordinary Americans.
The White House also released a detailed statement marking Trump’s first year in office titled 365 Wins in 365 Days President Trump’s Return Marks New Era of Success and Prosperity. Under a section titled Reasserting American Leadership on the World Stage, the document listed “Brokered peace between India and Pakistan” as one of the administration’s key achievements.
Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for ending tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly following a ceasefire announcement on May 10 last year. India has consistently rejected claims of third-party mediation, maintaining that any de-escalation occurred through bilateral channels.
During the press conference, Trump also said he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for ending conflicts involving Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Armenia and Azerbaijan. He criticised Norway, home to the Nobel Peace Prize committee, alleging that it exercises undue influence over the selection process.
“I settled eight wars. No president has probably ever settled even one,” Trump said, adding that leaders of the countries involved had nominated him for the prize.
He also praised Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who recently presented her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Trump at the White House, saying she believed he deserved the honour for ending multiple conflicts.
