India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire over the weekend with Donald Trump repeatedly insisting that the US had ‘helped’ broker the deal and ‘avert nuclear war’. The Indian foreign ministry subsequently issued a clarification, noting that conflicts between the two countries were resolved “bilaterally” as per policy. The White House however continues to hail the POTUS’ role in mediating a truce — with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt even quoting a ‘Kashmiri waiter’ at her Doha hotel on Thursday to underscore the claim.
“This morning at breakfast in Doha, my waiter told me to thank President Trump for him. I asked him why. He told me he is from Kashmir, and he has been unable to return home in recent weeks due to the India-Pakistan conflict. But he was just notified that he’s now able to return, thanks to the ceasefire mediated by President Trump, JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said President Trump is not receiving enough credit for literally preventing a nuclear war — and he is right!” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X.
She noted that the Republican leader had inherited numerous conflicts from around the globe and currently remained engaged in tackling them ‘one at a time’. Trump had left millions across the globe stunned last week after taking to Truth Social with a surprise announcement amid escalating tensions and a war-like situation. He claimed that the US had mediated a ceasefire between the two neighbours. In later comments he appeared to revise the assertion somewhat — contending that the US had ‘helped’ broker a ceasefire and claiming that he had threatened to stop trade in order to persuade India and Pakistan.
The post has not gone down well with netizens — with many questioning the story outlined by Leavitt.
“The India-Pakistan conflict erupted on April 22 and concluded by May 10, and here we are on May 15. This waiter, tragically barred from his home for—gasp—just three weeks. Is he so desperately homesick. Or baking these fake, sugary, heart-wrenching tales part of your KRA ? Do you think people in South Asia will buy these tales? Please, enlighten us with a rewrite, probably with less theatrics and a bit more knowledge,” fumed one user.
“Just a week ago JD Vance and Trump said they do not have anything to do with India vs Pakistan conflict and they cannot stop it. Trump even does have basic knowledge about India Pakistan conflict and says India has been fighting Pakistan for 1000 years,” reminded another.