Donald Trump told a crowd in Tampa, Florida on Friday, May 18, 2026, that he had prevented India and Pakistan from war by threatening each with 250% tariffs. He claimed the two nuclear‑armed neighbours had been angry but stopped shooting, adding that "eleven planes were shot." Trump also said he had settled eight wars and was disappointed the Nobel Peace Prize had not been awarded to him.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 1, 2025, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir after the April 22, 2025 attack in Pahalgam that killed several civilians. The Ministry of External Affairs stated there is no record of any U.S. tariff threat and that the ceasefire was negotiated directly between New Delhi and Islamabad.
The U.S. administration has not confirmed any role in the alleged tariff threat, and the United Nations has reiterated that it had no involvement in the situation. The U.S. State Department said it will review the claim in the context of its defense cooperation agreement with India signed in 2024.
India’s foreign ministry said it would engage with U.S. officials to clarify the matter, and diplomatic channels are reviewing the claims in light of the ongoing India‑U.S. defense talks. The next U.S. congressional hearing on foreign trade policy is scheduled for June 5, 2026, where the claim may be examined.
A family from Pahalgam, displaced by the April attack, expressed frustration that the rhetoric would distract from rebuilding the village and restoring security for its residents.