“Those are major nuclear powers… and they were angry,” Trump said. “The next phase was probably nuclear.”
Former US President Donald Trump has once again claimed that his intervention in the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan prevented a potentially catastrophic outcome, calling it a “bigger success than I’ll ever be given credit for.”
In an interview with Fox News aired on Friday, Trump reflected on his involvement in bringing India and Pakistan “back from the brink” during a period of high tension, suggesting that the situation was teetering dangerously close to a nuclear conflict.
“Those are major nuclear powers… and they were angry,” Trump said. “The next phase was probably nuclear.”
Trump was responding to a question regarding his foreign policy achievements, particularly his decision to directly call leaders in New Delhi and Islamabad. Recalling the episode, he said the situation had reached a dangerous point of escalation, with both countries exchanging missiles and ramping up aggression.
“It was tit for tat. More missiles. Everyone wanted to appear stronger,” he said, describing how close the nations came to what he referred to as “the N-word.”
“The N-word used in the nuclear sense, that’s the worst thing that can happen,” he added.
He emphasized that his intervention came through a mix of diplomacy and economic strategy, saying,
“I used trade to settle scores and to make peace.”
Trump also addressed trade relations with India, describing the country as “one of the highest tariff nations in the world.” According to him, he had negotiated significant tariff reductions from India, though no official confirmation has come from the Indian government on such a development.
“They make it almost impossible to do business. Do you know that they’re willing to cut 100% of their tariffs for the United States?” Trump claimed.
On a potential trade deal with India, he added, “Yeah, that’ll come soon. I’m in no rush.”
Trump also mentioned global enthusiasm for trade deals with the U.S., saying,
“I’ve got 150 countries that want to make deals… but I can’t meet with everyone.”
This marks the seventh time in as many days that Trump has repeated his assertion that he helped defuse the latest round of hostilities between India and Pakistan.
The tensions followed India’s retaliatory airstrikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians and soldiers. Over the following three days, Pakistan reportedly attempted drone and missile strikes targeting Indian military bases, which prompted robust counterattacks by Indian forces on Pakistani installations.
After four days of intense cross-border hostilities, the two countries reached an understanding on May 10, agreeing to a “full and immediate ceasefire.” Trump announced that this ceasefire came after a “long night” of U.S.-mediated discussions with both sides.
While the full details of the U.S. involvement remain unclear, Trump has positioned his role as pivotal in averting a crisis, reiterating that diplomacy and economic pressure were key to stabilizing the region.
As of now, neither India nor Pakistan has publicly commented on Trump’s claims.
