U.S. President Donald Trump this week again claimed that Washington prevented a "very, very big" war between India and Pakistan in May by threatening to suspend trade with both nuclear-armed neighbours. Speaking in New Jersey on 8 July, Trump said the intervention, which he tied to forthcoming U.S. trade deals with the two South Asian economies, should earn him a Nobel Peace Prize. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance have publicly echoed the assertion, with Rubio telling reporters that American diplomacy "averted" a conflict that had reached a "nuclear stage." Their comments refer to clashes that erupted after India’s 7 May Operation Sindoor—retaliatory strikes on militant camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir—following the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack. The fighting ended with a ceasefire understanding on 10 May. Asked about the competing narratives, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told a briefing on 9 July that “so many comments speak for themselves,” adding that the public record of events is “accessible in real time.” Bruce confirmed that Trump, Rubio and Vance were involved in back-channel contacts with New Delhi and Islamabad, but declined to detail the talks. India has repeatedly dismissed any U.S. mediation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have said the truce resulted from direct military-to-military channels after Pakistan sought de-escalation. Opposition Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, noting Trump has made the claim at least 21 times in two months, urged Modi to “break his silence.” Pakistan, by contrast, has praised the United States for what it calls a decisive diplomatic role and has backed informal efforts to nominate Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The divergent positions leave Washington’s exact contribution to the May ceasefire contested even as all three capitals signal interest in separate trade negotiations.