US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, October 7, defended his administration’s decision to impose tariffs, asserting that the policy has not only strengthened America’s economy but also positioned the country as a “global peacekeeper.” Responding to questions about whether the US would reconsider its tariff stance, Trump claimed that without such measures, four out of seven potential wars could have escalated worldwide.
Trump specifically referenced the India-Pakistan conflict, suggesting that his tariff strategy played a role in easing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. “If I didn’t have the power of tariffs, you would have at least four of the seven wars raging,” he said, adding, “If you look at India and Pakistan, they were ready to go at it… I don’t want to say exactly what I said, but what I said was very effective.” He further claimed that tariffs not only generated “hundreds of billions of dollars” but also contributed to maintaining peace.
The President has repeatedly credited his administration’s interventions for preventing several international conflicts, including during Operation Sindoor, which he said helped de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan. Recalling his administration’s early months, Trump remarked, “I have settled so many wars since we’re here… We are here almost nine months, and I have settled seven.” He added that resolving the standoff between India and Pakistan might have been the “biggest” diplomatic success of his tenure.
