WHAT WAS CLAIMED
A video shows Donald Trump at the Economic Club of New York threatening to "erase Pakistan" if it attacks India.
OUR VERDICT
False. Trump did not say this during his 2016 speech, and the clip appears to have been manipulated.
AAP FACTCHECK - A fake video of US President Donald Trump makes it appear as if he threatened to "erase Pakistan" during a speech he made at the Economic Club of New York.
Trump did not mention 'Pakistan' or 'India' in the 2016 speech and the clip appears to have been manipulated.
The suspicious video was shared on social media amid intense fighting between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours before they agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, 2025.
One Instagram post features the video of Trump appearing to threaten Pakistan at a lectern with the words 'THE ECONOMIC CLUB OF NEW YORK' in gold lettering on a red curtain behind him.
"I don't want war, I want peace, but if Pakistan attacks India, I will support India, erase Pakistan and warn China. I love Indian people," the president appears to say in the video.
The post's caption and the video overlay text are the same as his purported speech.
AAP FactCheck used a reverse image search to trace the original clip to a speech Trump gave at the Economic Club of New York in September 2016 — two months before the election that saw him win the White House for the first time.
The full speech can be seen on YouTube.
The original video shows Trump wearing the same outfit of blue suit and red tie. The curtain backdrop identifying the venue is the same as in the Instagram clip.
Nowhere in the 2016 speech, where he focuses on domestic economic issues, does Trump mention 'Pakistan' or 'India'.
The clip shared on Instagram appears to be a manipulated version of the authentic footage of his address.
Trump's mouth does not appear to move naturally, and while the voice sounds like the US president, there are anomalies - known as 'digital artefacts' - around his chin and collar that strongly suggest the clip has been altered.
Trump also addressed the Economic Club of New York on three other occasions, but the backdrop in 2016 differed from those in 2019, 2020 and 2024.
Transcripts of his 2019, 2020 and 2024 speeches do not contain the word 'Pakistan'.
AAP FactCheck could not find any credible media reports or records of Trump ever saying he would "erase Pakistan".
Versions of the clip have also been debunked by outlets including AFP Fact Check and Lead Stories.
AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, BlueSky, TikTok and YouTube.
