Washington D.C., May 12, 2025 – U.S. President Donald J. Trump has claimed that his administration successfully prevented a nuclear war between India and Pakistan, following a period of heightened military tension between the two nuclear-armed nations. Speaking at a White House briefing, Trump credited swift U.S. diplomatic efforts with brokering a full and immediate ceasefire.
“They were going at it hot and heavy. It was seemingly not going to stop,” Trump said, describing how the situation had escalated rapidly after a major terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. In response, India had launched coordinated air and missile strikes on Pakistani military installations, triggering fears of a broader war.
Trump said his intervention — supported by trade leverage and diplomatic pressure — led to a breakthrough. “We’re going to do a lot of trade with you guys. If you stop it, we’re doing trade. If you don’t, we’re not,” he told the leaders of both countries. Trump emphasized that the move likely prevented a “bad nuclear war” that could have resulted in millions of deaths.
The President praised his top officials for their roles in the mediation. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were instrumental in negotiating the ceasefire, according to Trump. Other members of Trump’s cabinet involved in the effort include Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who were tasked with managing high-level intelligence and military assessments.
Although Pakistan publicly thanked the U.S. for its role, Indian government sources stated that the ceasefire was the result of direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations, denying third-party mediation.
Trump’s cabinet, which includes key figures such as Attorney General Pam Bondi, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, is seen as central to his administration’s hardline yet pragmatic foreign policy. This incident underscores his team’s role in crisis management during a major international flashpoint.
While tensions have eased for now, experts caution that long-term peace in South Asia will depend on resolving core issues like the Kashmir conflict. For now, however, the Trump administration is being credited — at least publicly by Pakistan — with defusing one of the most dangerous stand-offs in the region in recent years.
