During his marathon State of the Union address on February 24, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump made a headline-grabbing gaffe while boasting about his foreign policy achievements. In a speech that lasted nearly one hour and 48 minutes—the longest in U.S. history—Trump appeared to misspeak regarding his role in de-escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan. The President claimed that “the Prime Minister of Pakistan would have died” if not for his personal involvement in halting a potential nuclear conflict between the two nations following the May 2025 crisis.
The statement caused a brief moment of silence and confusion in the House chamber. Trump was referring to the de-escalation of “Operation Sindoor,” India’s military campaign launched in response to a major terror attack. While the President’s phrasing suggested he had prevented the assassination or physical death of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he quickly clarified his meaning. He explained that PM Sharif had personally told him that his intervention saved “35 million lives” that would have been lost in a nuclear exchange, rather than referring to the Prime Minister’s life alone.
Throughout the address, Trump leaned heavily on his image as a global peacemaker, claiming to have ended eight different wars during his first ten months in office. He specifically highlighted his use of economic leverage, noting that he threatened both New Delhi and Islamabad with “200% tariffs” to force them to the negotiating table. Trump asserted that this transactional approach was the primary reason a “long night” of hostilities ended in a ceasefire. He also used the moment to pivot to broader domestic themes, arguing that his “America First” diplomacy has restored global stability while protecting U.S. economic interests.
Despite Trump’s assertive narrative, the Indian government has continued to firmly reject any claims of third-party mediation. New Delhi maintains that the cessation of hostilities was a bilateral decision reached through direct military channels, rather than American diplomacy. Meanwhile, the viral clip of the “would have died” comment has sparked a fresh wave of debate over the President’s rhetorical style. Critics pointed to the slip-up as a sign of the long speech’s toll, while supporters argued it was merely a colorful way of describing the magnitude of the nuclear catastrophe he believes he averted.
