He returned a year and a half ago to the White House with his “flagship” promise of fewer military conflicts and the end of American involvement in “endless wars.”
At his inauguration in January 2025, he declared that his greatest political legacy would be that of a “peacemaker”, while during the campaign he had repeatedly criticized his predecessors for wasting American resources on wars abroad.
However, the picture that has emerged since then is markedly different: since Trump’s return to power, they have engaged in a series of military operations from Africa and the Middle East to Latin America, composing one of the most aggressive periods of American foreign policy in recent years.
And as the US president repeats the questionable claim that he has ended “nine wars”, the New York Times has listed all the conflicts the US has been involved in or started this year and a half.
Somalia
Shortly after taking office, in February 2025, Trump ordered airstrikes against Islamic State operatives and recruits in Somalia as part of “enhanced counterterrorism operations” in the Horn of Africa. In total, more than 100 strikes were carried out against ISIS and al-Shabaab, an extremist group linked to al-Qaida, in 2025, with operations continuing into this year.
Iraq
In March 2025 in Iraq, US and Iraqi forces announced the killing of a senior leader of the Islamic State, believed to be the group’s head in Iraq and Syria.
Yemen
At the same time in Yemen, Operation Rough Rider was launched against the Houthis, the Iranian-backed militia.
The operations came at a heavy financial cost, with about a billion dollars worth of military hardware used in the first month alone. Two months later, the US announced a temporary cessation of hostilities, citing a de-escalation agreement, although navigation in the area remained restricted.
Iran (2025)
In June 2025, following Israeli attacks on Iran, the US launched the unprecedented Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. According to Trump’s statements, the raids destroyed critical uranium enrichment infrastructure, but tension between Washington and Tehran continued.
Venezuela (2025)
In September 2025, military action was extended to Venezuela, where the US launched attacks on vessels in the Caribbean, claiming – without providing evidence – that they were trafficking drugs. Dozens of boats were destroyed and hundreds of people lost their lives, while lawyers and analysts questioned the legality of the operations.
Syria
In December 2025, the US launched large-scale airstrikes in Syria in response to an ISIS attack that had killed US soldiers and an interpreter. Fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery were used against dozens of targets. At the same time, of course, the US began a gradual withdrawal from the country, maintaining a limited training and support role.
Nigeria
In the Christmas period of 2025, raids also began in Nigeria against the cores of the Islamic State, with Trump claiming in a post on social networks that the goal was to protect Christian populations. The conflict continues.
Venezuela (2026)
In early 2026, US special forces conducted an unprecedented operation in Caracas, arresting Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, transporting him and his wife to the US to face narco-terrorism charges.
Iran (2026)
A few weeks later, US and Israeli forces launched a new war against Iran, which has left behind hundreds of dead (although Iran says the number is more than 2,000), including top Iranian officials, the country’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and 13 US soldiers.
The war — which the Pentagon calls Operation “Epic Fury” — resulted in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, sending fuel prices soaring internationally.
In addition, Iran responded by striking Israel, US allies and US bases in the Middle East with drones and ballistic missiles.
The wars of past presidents
Despite Trump’s campaign messages, his predecessor, Joe Biden, can still claim to be the only US president in the 21st century who did not start or directly engage in a new large-scale war. He completed the withdrawal from Afghanistan and avoided immediately sending US troops to Ukraine and Gaza.
This, of course, does not mean that it has not been indirectly involved, having maintained troops in Syria and Iraq, increased its presence in Africa, and provided extensive military aid to allies — notably Ukraine and Israel.
The Los Angeles Times points out that the main difference was that the Biden strategy relied more on military support than on new, direct American operations.
More interesting is the comparison with former president Barack Obama, who was elected on the slogan of ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and was even awarded the – coveted by Trump – Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.
In a surprising turn of events, Obama became the first US president to serve two full terms with the US constantly at war.
It may have drastically reduced US troop numbers, but it has expanded the use of airstrikes, drones, special forces, cyber weapons and targeted operations in countries like Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan, greatly changing the face of warfare.
“Americans have learned that it’s harder to end wars than to start them,” he said in 2014.
