US President Donald Trump has claimed that as many as ten fighter jets were shot down during the May 2025 military clash between Pakistan and India, doubling his initial figure. The remarks came during an interview with Fox Business, aired on Wednesday, in which Trump also took credit for brokering the ceasefire.
“I settled eight wars. Of the eight wars, at least six were settled because of tariffs,” Trump said, discussing his so-called “reciprocity policy” on trade. He elaborated: “I said if you don’t settle this war, I’m going to charge you tariffs because I don’t want to see people getting killed. They said, ‘Well, what does this have to do with it?’ I said, ‘You’re going to be charged.’”
Trump warned that the situation between India and Pakistan could have escalated to a nuclear confrontation. “They were really going at it. Ten planes were shot down. It would have been a nuclear war in my opinion,” he said, citing praise from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who reportedly credited Trump with saving at least 10 million lives.
The May 2025 conflict began after a terrorist attack on tourists in the Pahalgam area of Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi claimed was supported by Islamabad—a charge Pakistan firmly denied. The ensuing clashes saw Pakistan reportedly down several Indian jets, including three Rafale aircraft, alongside numerous drones.
After at least 87 hours of fighting, the hostilities ended with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the US. While Pakistan has repeatedly acknowledged Trump’s role and even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, India has not credited the US president for the ceasefire.
Trump also referenced his mediation in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and reiterated his belief that previous US presidents had been “bad on trade”, contrasting this with his own record.
The US continues to maintain diplomatic engagement with both Islamabad and New Delhi, with trade talks and high-level visits ongoing despite lingering tensions.