United States President Donald Trump once again claimed he played a pivotal role in averting a potential military conflict between India and Pakistan during a standoff in May 2025. Speaking at his Board of Peace event, Trump alleged that he used both diplomacy and economic leverage to prevent escalation, claiming that “11 jets were shot down” in the confrontation an assertion repeatedly denied by New Delhi.
Trump described his approach as strategic and transactional. “When it came to losing a lot of money, they said, I guess we don’t want to fight… 11 jets were shot down. Very expensive jets,” he said. He further claimed that he warned both countries that ongoing trade deals could be halted if they did not settle the situation. “I said, if you fight, I’m going to put 200 per cent tariffs on each of your countries,” he added.
Over recent months, Trump has repeatedly asserted that he prevented war between the two nuclear-armed nations, making varying claims about the number of aircraft involved. His numbers have shifted over time from five jets in his initial statement, rising to seven, then eight, ten, and now eleven jets. Indian officials have consistently rejected any suggestion of third-party mediation or involvement, stating that the matter was handled bilaterally.
During his remarks, Trump also mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming the Indian leader was “watching” the event and supportive of the alleged interventions. While these claims remain unverified and widely disputed, they underscore Trump’s continued focus on projecting his influence in international conflicts, even years after leaving office.
The comments have stirred international attention, prompting reactions from analysts who caution against conflating unverified statements with official diplomatic history. The episode once again highlights Trump’s tendency to intertwine personal narratives with global affairs, drawing both scrutiny and debate across social and traditional media platforms.
