Trump Claims Tariffs Helped End Eight Wars in Ten Months, Defends Trade Policy

US President Donald Trump has once again credited his aggressive trade policies—particularly tariffs—for what he described as ending “eight wars in ten months,” calling tariffs his “favourite word” in the English language.

Addressing the nation while outlining his administration’s 2026 agenda, Trump claimed his leadership restored American strength globally, even as his approval ratings slide and inflation continues to strain American households.

“I’ve restored American strength, settled eight wars in 10 months, destroyed the Iran nuclear threat and ended the war in Gaza,” Trump said, asserting that his actions had brought peace to the Middle East “for the first time in 3,000 years.”

Tariffs at the Centre of Trump’s Claims

The President argued that tariffs imposed on countries including Canada, Mexico, Brazil and India helped generate unexpected revenue and strengthened the US economy. Trump insisted the trade measures boosted government finances and helped fund domestic initiatives, despite rising consumer prices.

“We made a lot more money than anybody thought because of tariffs,” Trump said, linking tariff revenues to the Republican-led tax cuts passed earlier this year.

However, Trump did not address concerns over inflation during his speech. Instead, he blamed former President Joe Biden and the previous Democratic administration for what he described as an economic and political “mess” inherited upon returning to office.

Public Skepticism Over Economic Claims

Trump’s remarks come amid growing skepticism among Americans about the state of the economy. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that only 33 per cent of US adults approve of how Trump has handled economic issues so far in his second term.

Despite this, Trump continued to defend his approach, reiterating that immigration, inflation and cultural issues were worsened under Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

“When I took office, I inherited a mess—and I’m fixing it,” Trump said, without offering specific explanations for current inflationary pressures.

Repeated War-Ending Claims Draw Scrutiny

This is not the first time Trump has claimed to have halted multiple conflicts using economic pressure. He has repeatedly stated that the threat of tariffs helped bring about ceasefires, including during tensions between India and Pakistan earlier this year. New Delhi has consistently rejected these claims, maintaining that Washington was only informed of developments rather than mediating them.

During the address, Trump also unveiled plaques highlighting what he called the failures of past US presidents, including Barack Obama, in an unusual segment of the speech.

‘Warrior Dividends’ Announcement

One concrete policy announcement during the address was a plan to issue $1,776 cheques to over 1.4 million US service members before Christmas. Trump referred to the payments as “warrior dividends,” implying they were enabled by tariff-driven revenues.

“Nobody deserves it more than our military,” Trump said while announcing the payments.

As Trump continues to promote tariffs as both a diplomatic and economic tool, critics remain unconvinced, pointing to rising costs and unresolved global conflicts that challenge his sweeping claims.