Former U.S. President Donald Trump has a tendency to boast about his presidency, and it is no exception when he speaks of his own presidency. He tends to say that he “ended six or seven wars.” This has been said in speeches and interviews, and many people question whether this actually happened.
What Constitutes a War?
In order to comprehend Trump’s assertion, first one needs to explain what is a “war.” A war typically refers to mass-scale, ongoing combat involving nations or influential groups, usually involving the armed forces and significant losses. The United States has fought numerous foreign wars since the early 2000s, particularly following the attacks on September 11. These include Afghanistan wars, the Iraq war, the war in Syria, and counterterrorism operations in states such as Yemen, Libya, and Somalia.
But not all of these wars were officially deemed “wars.” Many were small-scale operations, drone wars, or backup missions with local partners. This makes it difficult to quantify how many “wars” a president can really close.
Trump’s Record on Military Conflicts
Throughout his presidency (2017–2021), Trump had a different strategy for U.S. foreign wars than some of his predecessors. Here are some highlights:
- Afghanistan – Trump had negotiated a peace deal with the Taliban in 2020, in which a time schedule was provided for withdrawing American troops. But the withdrawal was not completed under him; it was finalized in 2021 under President Joe Biden.
- Iraq – There were American troops in Iraq during Trump’s tenure, although the number of troops was lowered. The mission evolved from combat to assisting local Iraqi forces.
- Syria – Trump decreased American engagement in Syria but did not eliminate it altogether. American soldiers remained to combat ISIS and to defend oil fields.
- Yemen and Somalia – Trump retrenched some overt U.S. military engagement, but drone strikes and counterterrorism activity persisted.
- North Korea – Not technically a war, but Trump broke precedent by sitting down with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un to negotiate over nuclear weapons. Still, peace did not officially result.
Did He Actually End Six or Seven Wars?
The response is nuanced. Although Trump scaled back U.S. engagement in a number of areas, it isn’t exactly right to say that he ended six or seven wars. The majority of the conflicts he mentions were either continuing counterterrorism operations or military campaigns that did not formally conclude while he was president.
Critics contend that his statement is false because the U.S. military continued to be engaged in most of these countries despite troop withdrawals. Supporters of him, however, give him credit for preventing new wars and limiting the nation’s involvement in drawn-out, expensive wars.
Why the Claim Matters
Trump’s claim resonates with voters who are sick of “forever wars” and ceaseless U.S. military engagement abroad. Most Americans want to see their politicians deal with the issues at home instead of committing billions to foreign conflicts. By claiming he “ended wars,” Trump constructs his reputation as a president who prioritized America.