Trump, 79, Demands Credit for Ending Wars as His Iran Crisis Explodes

The 'Peace President' is promising to end yet another war.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:18am

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Donald Trump has tried to dust off his 'Peace President' credentials as his latest war rages on in the Middle East. Trump launched 'major combat operations' against Iran on Feb. 28 with joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, but has struggled to stick to any clear rationale for the conflict. More than 1,200 people have been killed in Iran itself, including 175 who died after a stray Tomahawk missile hit an elementary school. Iran has responded by firing missiles and drones at U.S., Israeli, and allied targets across the region.

Why it matters

Trump has long railed against America's 'Forever Wars' in the Middle East and repeatedly promised voters he would reduce U.S. military entanglements abroad. However, his latest conflict with Iran has led to significant casualties and global economic disruption, raising questions about his credibility as a 'Peace President'.

The details

Trump got an equally phony peace prize from FIFA and tried to get Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado to hand over her Nobel Peace Prize medal to him in a phony Oval Office ceremony. Trump's prior claims of stopping '8 Wars Plus' remain a subject of debate, as some of the conflicts were already frozen or largely diplomatic disputes.

  • On Feb. 28, Trump launched 'major combat operations' against Iran with joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.
  • On Wednesday, Trump told local Cincinnati outlet WKRC Local 12 that 'there has never been a better year for a president, first year, than what we had. That includes the stoppage of eight wars, with ninth to come.'

The players

Donald Trump

The 79-year-old President of the United States who has tried to portray himself as a 'Peace President' while launching a new war against Iran.

María Corina Machado

A Venezuelan opposition leader who was bullied by Trump into handing over her Nobel Peace Prize medal in a phony Oval Office ceremony.

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What they’re saying

“There's great evil taking place in Iran, as you know, and our military has been unbelievable. We're knocking the hell out of them.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (WKRC Local 12)

“I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.”

— Donald Trump (The White House)

What’s next

The White House has not provided a clear timeline for when Trump's campaign against Iran will end.

The takeaway

Trump's claims of being a 'Peace President' who has ended multiple wars have been called into question, as his latest conflict with Iran has led to significant casualties and global economic disruption. This raises doubts about his credibility and commitment to reducing U.S. military entanglements abroad.