'PM Modi called…': Trump again claims he averted India-Pak nuclear clash with 350% tariff threat

Donald Trump takes credit for India-Pakistan truce again

US President Donald Trump has once again claimed that he single-handedly prevented a nuclear clash between India and Pakistan by threatening both countries with steep trade tariffs.

Speaking at an event, Trump said he warned New Delhi and Islamabad of a 350% tariff during an earlier phase of heightened tensions, asserting that his intervention stopped an escalation.

Trump repeated his long-standing claim, saying, "India and Pakistan were going to go at it with nuclear weapons. I told them, you can go at it, but I'm putting a 350 percent tariff on each country, no more trade with the United States."

VIDEO | Washington DC: US President Donald Trump (@POTUS) claims again that he prevented India–Pakistan war by threatening both countries with a 350 per cent tariff.

Trump says, "India and Pakistan were going to go at it with nuclear weapons. I told them, you can go at it, but… pic.twitter.com/PQ7TtRHecr

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 20, 2025

Trump then claimed that he “got a call from Prime Minister Modi saying, ‘we're done'. I said, ‘you're done with what?'” Trump said and claimed Modi replied: “We're not going to go to war.” Trump said he then thanked Modi and said, “Let's make a deal.”

His comments resurfaced months after Operation Sindoor, India’s cross-border military action launched on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. The confrontation lasted four days before both sides announced a truce on May 10.

Recounting the episode, Trump said he used economic pressure to force restraint, claiming both countries pushed back. “No, no, you can’t do that,” he said they told him, before he insisted he would act regardless. He added that tariffs had helped settle several global conflicts during his tenure, saying he resolved “five of the eight… because of the economy, because of trade, because of tariffs.”

Trump said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked him, quoting him as saying, “Thank you very much… President Trump saved millions and millions of lives.” He also claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him to indicate de-escalation: “We’re done… We’re not going to go to war,” Trump recalled Modi telling him.

While Trump has repeatedly claimed Washington played a central role in ending the hostilities, India has consistently denied any third-party mediation, saying the ceasefire was reached through DGMO-level talks.