Trump Claims He’s the First US President to End a War – Is it True?

In a recent statement, former President Donald Trump claimed that no other US president has ever successfully ended a war, positioning himself as the only one to have done so. This bold assertion, which has raised eyebrows in political circles, invites a closer look at both historical context and the specifics of Trump’s own foreign policy record.

The Claim: “No President Has Ended a War”

Trump’s comment, made during a speech, suggests that, in his view, only he has managed to “end a war” in a meaningful way. While his tenure as president was marked by attempts to scale back US military engagements abroad, especially in the Middle East, this claim requires scrutiny.

Historical Perspective on US Presidents Ending Wars

Throughout American history, several presidents have claimed credit for ending wars, though the context and consequences of those “endings” vary significantly.

Woodrow Wilson: World War I ended under his leadership with the 1919 Armistice and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

Harry S. Truman: The end of World War II saw Truman oversee the surrender of Japan after the atomic bombings in 1945.

Dwight D. Eisenhower: After the Korean War (1950-1953), Eisenhower successfully negotiated an armistice, halting active combat though no official peace treaty was signed.

Though many of these wars did not technically have “endings” in the way we might think—such as clear peace treaties or ceasefires—presidents have played key roles in ceasing active combat.

Trump’s Legacy in the Middle East

When it comes to Trump, the most prominent claim he made was overseeing the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, a move that culminated in the chaotic 2021 evacuation. Trump’s administration also brokered peace deals between Israel and several Arab nations, such as the Abraham Accords, which many viewed as a significant achievement in promoting regional stability.

However, the pullout from Afghanistan was far from a clean “end” to the war. The rapid return of the Taliban to power and the humanitarian crisis that followed raised questions about the true success of the operation.

Additionally, while Trump’s administration made strides in shifting the US’s involvement in conflicts, some would argue that wars have merely been “reduced” rather than concluded. Many active military engagements continued under his watch, including operations in Syria and Iraq.

Is Trump’s Statement Accurate?

While it’s clear that Trump shifted the US approach to conflict, especially by reducing military presence in certain regions, the idea that no other president has “ended a war” is an oversimplification. Presidents, from Wilson to Truman, have played roles in the conclusion of major conflicts, each with their own complexities and ramifications.

Trump’s claim may be more reflective of his self-perception as an outsider who sought to challenge the traditional foreign policy establishment. Still, the historical record shows that many other US leaders have navigated the end of wars in ways that shaped global peace.

Conclusion