The 8 wars that President Trump claims to have ended

President Donald Trump highlighted his record on international peace at the newly named President Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. On December 4, he hosted a ceremony marking a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, praising the building as "brand-new," despite it being constructed over a decade ago. "Today we're succeeding where so many others have failed," he said. "This has become the eighth war we've ended in less than a year."

Trump has repeatedly made similar statements during his presidency. In August, prior to meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders at the White House, he claimed on Truth Social that he had resolved six wars in six months. In September, speaking with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he said seven wars had been ended. After a recent ceasefire in Gaza, he increased the count to eight.

However, the conflicts Trump references do not all fall within his current term, and not all parties credit the U.S. for the agreements.

The Eight Conflicts Trump References

• Armenia and Azerbaijan On August 8, a peace deal was signed at the White House, ending a decades-long war. Leaders of both nations praised Trumps role.
• Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda Trump announced a treaty on June 20, crediting Secretary of State Marco Rubio for facilitating talks. Fighting has continued, though Trump suggested the conflict may decrease.
• Iran and Israel A ceasefire was announced on June 23 following U.S. support for Israel in striking Iranian nuclear sites.
• India and Pakistan Both nuclear-armed neighbors reached a ceasefire in May through U.S.-led discussions, although India did not credit the U.S.
• Cambodia and Thailand Leaders agreed to a ceasefire on July 28 after several deadly days of fighting. Trump encouraged negotiations or risked affecting trade deals.
• Israel and Hamas The administration brokered a ceasefire after a two-year war that caused tens of thousands of deaths, mostly Palestinian. The U.N. has supported Trump's plan for long-term peace in Gaza.
• Ethiopia and Egypt No formal war or peace deal exists, but Trump referenced efforts to resolve tensions over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam during his first term.
• Serbia and Kosovo Trump highlighted economic normalization agreements announced in 2020. While Kosovo credited him with preventing escalation, Serbia disputed the claim, and no formal peace treaty has been signed.

In summary, while Trump emphasizes ending eight wars, several of these conflicts were ongoing before his current term, and U.S. involvement is not universally acknowledged. Some of the disputes involved agreements, others were more about mediation or negotiation rather than fully resolved conflicts.

Author: Riley Thompson