You hear it all the time. Depending on who you’re talking to, Donald Trump is either a master dealmaker who single-handedly shuttered global conflicts or a guy who just moved the furniture around while the house was still on fire. It’s a messy, loud debate. But if you actually look at the data and the boots on the ground, the truth about the wars trump has stopped is a lot more nuanced than a thirty-second campaign ad.
Honestly, the term "stopped" is where most people get tripped up. In the world of high-stakes geopolitics, wars don't usually just "stop" like a car hitting a red light. They simmer. They pivot. Sometimes they just go quiet for a while because everyone is too tired to keep shooting.
Trump’s record is a mix of legitimate historic breakthroughs, aggressive posturing that actually worked, and some claims that—let’s be real—are a bit of a stretch. We’re talking about a president who famously said he started "no new wars," a claim that holds up under scrutiny if you’re looking at full-scale invasions, though his second term in 2026 has already seen some "kinetic" actions that have critics scratching their heads.
The Big One: The Israel-Iran "12-Day War" of 2025
If we’re talking about the most recent and dramatic example of wars trump has stopped, we have to look at the June 2025 flare-up between Israel and Iran. This wasn't just a shadow war; it was a full-blown 12-day exchange that threatened to melt the entire Middle East.
Israel had launched strikes on Iranian nuclear sites at Fordo and Natanz. Tehran was ready to go all-in. For about a week, it looked like we were staring down the barrel of World War III. Then, Trump stepped in.
He didn't just send a sternly worded letter. He directed U.S. warplanes to strike specific Iranian nuclear facilities—basically showing that the U.S. was willing to do the dirty work if Iran didn't back down. It was a "maximum pressure" move on steroids. Within days, a ceasefire was negotiated.
Evelyn Farkas from the McCain Institute actually gave him credit here, noting that the conflict had no clear end in sight before the U.S. intervention. Was it a permanent peace? Probably not. Critics like Lawrence Haas call it a "temporary respite." But for those 12 days, the bullets stopped flying. That’s a win in any diplomat's book.
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The Abraham Accords: Preventing Wars Before They Start
You can't talk about wars trump has stopped without mentioning the Abraham Accords. This is arguably the "crown jewel" of his first-term foreign policy.
Before 2020, the consensus was that you couldn't have peace between Israel and Arab nations without first solving the Palestinian issue. Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, basically said, "Watch us." They bypassed the old playbook and brokered normalization deals between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
- The UAE & Bahrain: These were the first to jump in, trading diplomatic recognition for trade and security ties.
- Morocco: This one involved the U.S. recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara—a classic "quid pro quo" that actually resulted in an embassy.
- Sudan: They got removed from the state sponsors of terrorism list in exchange for peace.
Why does this count as stopping a war? Because it dismantled the "perpetual war" footing that had existed since 1948. It turned former enemies into business partners. By 2022, trade between Israel and the UAE had already hit $2.5 billion. When people have skin in the game—meaning money—they’re a lot less likely to start bombing each other.
The "Almost" Wars: North Korea and the Twitter Diplomacy
Remember 2017? "Little Rocket Man" vs. "Fire and Fury"?
The world was legitimately terrified that a nuclear exchange was coming. Trump’s approach was basically a high-stakes game of chicken. He’d tweet something inflammatory, then follow it up by stepping across the DMZ to shake hands with Kim Jong-un.
Critics argue that he gave Kim a seat at the big-boy table without getting him to give up his nukes. And they’re right—North Korea is still building missiles. But the immediate threat of a 2017 invasion? That evaporated. It was "de-escalation through escalation." Kinda crazy, but it worked in the short term.
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Afghanistan and the Long Goodbye
This is where things get controversial. Trump signed the Doha Agreement in February 2020. It was a deal with the Taliban: the U.S. leaves, and the Taliban stops attacking U.S. troops.
Trump claims he "ended" the longest war in American history. And he did set the wheels in motion. He brought troop levels down to 2,500 by the time he left office in early 2021.
The catch? The withdrawal happened under Biden, and it was... well, it was a mess. Trump says if he were in charge, the chaos at Kabul airport never would have happened. His supporters believe him; his detractors say he left a "ticking time bomb" for his successor. Either way, the U.S. combat role in Afghanistan—a war that lasted two decades—effectively ended because of a deal Trump initiated.
The 2026 Reality Check: Is the Record Holding?
As we sit here in 2026, the narrative is shifting again. Trump has been claiming he’s ended "eight wars" this year alone. That’s a huge number. Let’s break down what he’s actually talking about:
- Armenia and Azerbaijan: He hosted leaders at the White House in August 2025. They signed a deal to reopen transport routes. It’s a step toward peace, but is the war "stopped"? It’s more like "paused."
- India and Pakistan: There was a scary moment in April 2025 involving the killing of tourists in Kashmir. Trump claimed he brokered a ceasefire via trade concessions. Pakistan said thanks; India said "we didn't even talk to him." The truth is likely somewhere in the middle.
- Thailand and Cambodia: He intervened in a border dispute that had been simmering for years. It’s quiet for now, but both sides are still grumbling.
Why This Matters for Your Wallet and Your Security
When a president "stops" a war, it’s not just about the history books. It has real-world impacts on you.
Market Stability
War in the Middle East sends oil prices through the roof. When the 12-day war in 2025 was halted, we saw a stabilization in energy markets that saved the average American family hundreds at the pump.
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Reduced Spending
"Endless wars" are expensive. The drawdown in the Middle East and Africa (like Somalia) allows for a refocusing of the defense budget. Trump’s "America First" logic is that we shouldn't be the world's policeman if the world isn't paying for the service.
The "Peace Through Strength" Doctrine
The core of the Trump strategy is unpredictability. If the other guy doesn't know if you're going to send a tweet or a Tomahawk missile, they’re more likely to stay at the negotiating table. It’s a high-risk, high-reward style of diplomacy that defies traditional State Department logic.
Actionable Insights: How to Evaluate Peace Claims
Don't just take a politician's word for it—or a pundit's. If you want to know if a war has actually been stopped, look at these three things:
- Troop Levels: Are the soldiers actually coming home, or are they just being moved to a different base nearby?
- Trade Volume: Peace is usually followed by a surge in business. If the countries aren't trading, the peace is probably fake.
- Third-Party Verification: Look at what neutral organizations like the International Crisis Group or AP Fact Check are saying.
The story of the wars trump has stopped is still being written. In his second term, he’s doubling down on the "Dealmaker" persona, but as the recent strike in Venezuela shows, he’s not afraid to start something if he thinks it’ll end a larger problem. It’s a wild ride, and honestly, the only thing we know for sure is that the old rules of diplomacy have been tossed out the window.
Stay informed, look at the maps, and remember: in geopolitics, "stopped" is often just a very long "maybe."
Next Steps for You
- Audit the Abraham Accords: Look up the current trade agreements between Israel and the UAE to see if the "peace" is actually producing economic results.
- Monitor the Kashmir Border: Keep an eye on reports from the Line of Control between India and Pakistan to see if the April ceasefire actually holds through the summer.
- Check the Defense Budget: See if the "war stops" are actually leading to a reduction in U.S. military spending or if that money is just being redirected to the new Space Force.