Image Credit: X account @WhiteHouse
Trump Claims Again He Averted India-Pakistan Nuclear War
US President Donald Trump has claimed that he prevented a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan by threatening both countries with a 350 per cent tariff. He said he intervened amid escalating tensions and asserted that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi later called him, saying the crisis had been defused.
What He Claimed
Trump stated that when India and Pakistan were “ready to fight,” he warned both nations that US trade access would be cut off unless they stood down. He repeated that he did “not want nuclear dust over Los Angeles,” referencing the global stakes of a possible nuclear exchange. According to his remarks, his strong stance convinced both sides to step back.
Response And Context
There is no independent confirmation that the proposed 350 per cent tariff threat was formally issued or that Trump’s intervention directly caused a de-escalation of nuclear risk. India and Pakistan have not publicly acknowledged such a US-imposed ultimatum. Analysts emphasise that while tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have risen in 2025, there is no verifiable public record of a direct threat of nuclear war that Trump intervened to stop.
Strategic Implications
The claim underscores Trump’s intent to portray himself as a global peace-maker. For India-Pakistan relations, the statement may carry symbolic weight but has uncertain operational consequence. If genuine, the tariff assertion would signal extreme leverage being used in diplomacy. However, the absence of corroborating evidence raises questions about its factual basis and diplomatic impact.
Risks And Considerations
The claim risks being seen as grandiose without substantiation, potentially complicating diplomatic narratives. If neither India nor Pakistan acknowledge the tariff ultimatum or Trump’s role, his statement may be viewed as post-fact political positioning rather than a factual recounting of events. For scholars and policy watchers, distinguishing between claim and verifiable fact remains critical.
Way Forward
Further verification is needed: trade records, diplomatic cables or official acknowledgements could clarify whether such a tariff threat was ever issued and whether it influenced India-Pakistan moves. Until then, the claim remains a high-profile assertion rather than an established diplomatic event.
