NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, FEB 25: US President Donald Trump doubled down on his peacemaker narrative during a marathon 100+ minute State of the Union address Tuesday, asserting that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally credited him with averting a nuclear apocalypse—saving 35 million lives in the 2025 India-Pakistan crisis.
“In my first 10 months, I ended eight wars… including Pakistan and India, which would have been a nuclear war. Thirty-five million people, said the Prime Minister of Pakistan, would have died if it were not for my involvement,” Trump declared to Congress, inflating earlier claims of 25 million or 10 million lives spared.
This marks Trump’s roughly 100th iteration of taking credit since May 10 last year, when he touted a US-brokered “full and immediate” ceasefire after “long night” talks. India has steadfastly rejected any third-party role, insisting bilateral resolve—and Operation Sindoor post-Pahalgam attack—handled the de-escalation.
Trump reeled off a victory lap of other “resolved” flashpoints: Cambodia-Thailand, Kosovo-Serbia, Israel-Iran, Egypt-Ethiopia, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Congo-Rwanda, and a “low-level” Gaza war. “We’re proudly restoring safety for Americans at home and security abroad. Our country has never been stronger,” he boomed in his second SOTU of term two.
Drama peaked when Democratic lawmakers interrupted, prompting Trump’s quip: “Isn’t it funny? Sick people…” The address underscored his foreign policy swagger amid domestic security pitches.
Sharif’s camp stayed mum, but the claim reignites South Asia diplomacy debates. With Trump’s reelection boasts still fresh, expect Indian rebuttals and Pakistani clarifications soon.
