Trump Claims Tariffs Averted Pakistan-India Nuclear War
President Donald Trump said his tariff policy helped prevent wars, including a potential India-Pakistan nuclear conflict, while defending his economic and foreign policy record in his second State of the Union address.
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said his administration’s tariff policy had prevented several conflicts, including a possible nuclear war between Pakistan and India, as he defended his record during his second-term State of the Union address.
Trump told lawmakers that despite imposing sweeping tariffs, multiple countries were still seeking to maintain trade agreements with Washington. He claimed Pakistan’s prime minister acknowledged that his intervention had “saved 35 million lives,” referring to tensions between the nuclear-armed South Asian rivals. He did not provide details of the circumstances surrounding the claim.
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Speaking before Congress, Trump also addressed tensions with Iran, saying Tehran was developing missiles capable of reaching the United States. He said Washington was pursuing a diplomatic deal but warned that the US believed in “peace through strength.”
Trump repeated his assertion that US strikes last year had completely destroyed Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program. Tehran has consistently denied seeking nuclear arms and maintains its nuclear program is for civilian purposes. Trump also referenced the US killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, describing it as a decisive action against regional threats.
The president criticized a Supreme Court ruling against aspects of his tariff measures, calling the decision misguided. He argued that his trade strategy had strengthened American leverage globally, even as critics warn of retaliatory tariffs and global supply chain disruptions.
On immigration, Trump said the US border was the most secure in its history. He claimed no undocumented migrants had entered the country in the past nine months and pledged continued deportations of illegal immigrants. Official border data has shown fluctuations in crossings in recent years, with enforcement and asylum policies remaining politically divisive.
Turning to the economy, Trump said inflation had dropped significantly during his second term. He claimed egg prices had fallen 60% and that the administration had secured $18 trillion in investment commitments over the past year. Independent economic data shows inflation has moderated from multi-decade highs recorded in 2022, though price pressures remain in some sectors.
Trump said the United States was stronger and more prosperous than a year ago. He described his administration’s first year of the second term as transformative, delivering “extraordinary achievements.”
He sharply criticized former president Joe Biden, saying the country had been on the brink of collapse under his predecessor. Trump claimed the US had now become the most admired nation in the world.
The president also highlighted tax cuts passed by Republicans in Congress last year, saying Democrats opposed the legislation because they wanted to raise taxes. The measure extended key provisions of earlier tax reforms while reducing certain corporate levies.
During the speech, Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar protested and attempted to display a banner inside the chamber. She was escorted out of the building by security officials.
Cabinet members, lawmakers and their families attended the address, which comes at a time of heightened political polarization ahead of the next election cycle. Trump’s remarks underscored his focus on trade protectionism, immigration enforcement and an assertive foreign policy as defining pillars of his second term.