Ledger · 2024 campaign · № 173

in 24 hours / before I even take office

End the Russia-Ukraine war 'in 24 hours'

Broken
“If I'm president, I will have that war settled in one day, 24 hours.”
Promised
, CNN town hall, Goffstown, New Hampshire
Stated deadline
“in 24 hours / before I even take office” → May 11, 2023
Overdue by
3 years, 4 months as of September 22, 2026
Re-promised
53 times with a fresh deadline
Topic
Ukraine & Russia
Era
2024 campaign

What happened

CNN counted at least 53 occasions on which Trump said he would end the war within 24 hours or before taking office. The war was still going on when he was inaugurated on January 20, 2025, and continued through 2025 and into 2026 despite repeated two-week deadlines, a 50-day ultimatum, the August 2025 Alaska summit and the cancelled Budapest summit. On March 14, 2025 Trump said the 24-hour pledge had been 'a little bit sarcastic.'

Sources

  1. Fact check: It wasn't 'in jest.' Here are 53 times Trump said he'd end Ukraine war within 24 hours or before taking office CNN, Apr 25, 2025
  2. Ukraine: Trump won't commit to backing ally in war with Russia CNN, May 10, 2023
  3. Trump says promise to end Ukraine war in 24 hours was 'little bit sarcastic' Anadolu Agency, Mar 14, 2025
  4. End the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours PolitiFact (MAGA-Meter), Apr 28, 2025
  5. Trump vowed to end the Ukraine war in 24 hours, but the conflict still rages NBC News, Apr 28, 2025