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Donald Trump has claimed he could have brought a swift end to the Vietnam War, saying he would have secured victory "very quickly" if he had been president at the time.
Speaking during a phone interview on CNBC's Squawk Box on April 21, Trump compared the length of past wars to ongoing conflicts, pointing out that Vietnam lasted nearly two decades. "I would have won Vietnam very quickly if I were president," he said.
He went on to add, "I would have won Iraq in the same amount of time — 'cause essentially, we've won here," referring to the current situation involving Iran.
The Vietnam War, which ran from 1955 to 1975, spanned multiple U.S. administrations and resulted in significant casualties. According to official figures, more than 58,000 American service members died, while hundreds of thousands were wounded.
Trump's remarks have drawn attention in part because he did not serve during the war. At the time, U.S. men aged 18 to 25 were subject to the draft, but Trump received several deferments.
Four were tied to his college education, and a fifth came after he was diagnosed with bone spurs in 1968, which made him ineligible for service.
That diagnosis has been questioned over the years. In previous reporting, the daughter of the doctor who issued the medical note claimed it had been given as a favor to Trump's father.
Trump has previously addressed the issue, describing the condition as "not a big problem, but it was enough of a problem."
During the same interview, Trump also referenced other global conflicts, listing their durations as a way to frame his argument. "World War I, four years and three months. World War II, six years. Korean War, three years. Vietnam, 19 years," he said, before contrasting those timelines with his own approach to military action.
His comments come as the U.S. remains engaged in tensions involving Iran, with discussions around ceasefire agreements and further military action ongoing.
Trump suggested a more aggressive stance may be necessary, stating, "I expect to be bombing because I think that's a better attitude to go in with," while also noting that military forces were "ready to go."
