Fact Check: Is Trump's claim that he never guaranteed 'no wars' true?

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid ongoing scrutiny over tensions with Iran, President Donald Trump, in a recent interview on NBC’s 'Meet the Press' on Sunday, June 7, claimed that he never pledged to completely avoid military engagements, sparking a range of reactions, with many accusing him of lying.

Let’s examine Trump’s previous remarks and fact-check the claim.

Claim: Trump says he didn't guarantee 'no wars'

“First of all, I didn’t guarantee no war. Why would I have built the strongest military in the world?” Trump told host Kristen Welker.

“I built our military. I inherited a terrible military. We had no equipment. We had nothing. I built a tremendous military. When you say I promised, I didn’t promise anything.”

Trump said that he doesn’t like “endless wars” and added that the current conflict with Iran “is not an endless war,” asserting that the Vietnam War lasted for 19 years “because of stupid people.”

“We’re there for a few months, and the threat is largely over,” Trump said. “Soon, it will be over. But you cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon, or they will blow you up. There will be no Kristen. There will be no NBC. There will be no ‘Meet the Press.’”

Fact Check: Trump criticized lengthy military actions throughout his campaigns

However, Trump’s claim is misleading. Throughout his presidential campaigns, he repeatedly criticized US involvement in prolonged military actions in the Middle East, including attacks on former President George W Bush over the Iraq War during a 2016 debate.

While addressing rallygoers in Pennsylvania in 2024, he said, “I will not send you to fight and die in stupid foreign wars that never end.” He reiterated that message in his 2024 victory speech, stating, “I’m not going to start a war. I’m going to stop wars.”

The White House biography for the president also states that one of his top priorities is “putting a stop to endless wars.”

Trump sets condition for lifting Iran sanctions

Trump clarified that he would not unfreeze Iranian assets or lift sanctions before a peace deal is reached. He said that unfreezing assets or removing sanctions on Iran to allow its economy to thrive “comes after” a peace agreement is finalized.

He further indicated that, if Iran behaves appropriately, he might consider those steps, saying, "Yeah. If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking. Yeah."