In a wide-ranging interview on Fox News, former U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his claim that he personally helped defuse a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. Calling it “one of the biggest successes no one ever gives me credit for,” Trump said he contacted leaders from both countries just hours before leaving for the Gulf to urge them to “step back from the brink.”
“These are major nuclear powers. Not a little bit,” Trump emphasized, referring to the escalating missile strikes at the time. “They were angry. The next phase was probably… you know what the N word is, right? Nuclear. That’s a very nasty word.”
Trump also connected his peace efforts to trade incentives, promising to remove tariffs on U.S. exports to India once tensions cooled down. “I’m using trade to settle scores and make peace,” he stated.
Turning to his recent three-nation Gulf tour — Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE — Trump hailed it as a “major, major success” in countering China’s expanding influence in the region. He credited his longstanding personal relationships with Gulf leaders for preventing deeper Chinese involvement, saying, “They were being coaxed by China, solving their fuel problem forever. That’s not happening now.”
Trump boasted of securing over $2 trillion in deals during the trip, including $600 billion from Saudi Arabia and $243.5 billion from Qatar. He challenged his Gulf partners to “double it up,” presenting these investments as key to strengthening U.S. manufacturing and defense initiatives, such as his proposed “Golden Dome” missile shield for the Middle East.
Addressing questions about Qatar’s gift of a 42-year-old Boeing 747-8 to serve temporarily as Air Force One, Trump clarified that the aircraft would belong to the U.S. Air Force. He dismissed ethical concerns by saying, “Why wouldn’t I accept the gift? We’re giving to everybody else.” He added that the $400 million plane will eventually be displayed at a future presidential library.
On Iran, Trump credited his sanctions policy for leaving Tehran “stone cold broke,” claiming it cut funding to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. He warned that without urgent measures, Iran’s nuclear ambitions could spiral out of diplomatic control.
Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump criticized President Biden’s handling of the war and expressed confidence in his own ability to broker peace. “Putin’s tired of this. He’s not looking good. This was supposed to end in a week,” Trump said, suggesting his involvement is critical to any meaningful negotiations.
Finally, Trump hinted at possible upcoming meetings with China’s Xi Jinping and additional diplomatic efforts. He contrasted his “very taxing” hands-on diplomacy with Biden’s perceived weakening of U.S. global influence, pledging to resolve crises in Gaza and advocate for humanitarian relief.
