“It could have gone nuclear”—U.S. President Donald Trump has once again claimed that he personally prevented a full-scale war between India and Pakistan, connecting the high-stakes intervention to critical trade diplomacy during his leadership.

During a recent public address, President Trump recounted how tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors had reached a boiling point during his previous term, and how he directly intervened to calm the situation. “They were ready to go to war. It was that serious. I had to get involved. I called both sides and said, ‘This needs to stop now,’” Trump said.

He went on to say that this dramatic intervention happened while the U.S. was deeply involved in trade negotiations with both India and Pakistan. “We were dealing with trade—very big deals. But at the same time, I was making peace,” Trump added, highlighting the dual role of economic and diplomatic leadership he believes only he could balance.

The incident Trump likely refers to aligns with the 2019 post-Pulwama tensions, where a terrorist attack and subsequent airstrikes brought India and Pakistan close to direct conflict. Reports at the time indicated backchannel diplomatic pressure from the U.S., but Trump's portrayal of events suggests his role was not just supportive, but decisive.

While supporters praise his boldness and leadership in foreign affairs, critics say the President’s claims lack formal backing from Indian or Pakistani sources and may be dramatized for political gain. Still, his narrative reinforces his image as a peace-through-strength leader—a theme he's pushing hard in both domestic and international rhetoric.

As Trump begins his new term, this retelling may shape how his administration approaches future crises in South Asia and beyond, with his legacy tied closely to claims of crisis aversion through personal diplomacy.