Two of Pakistan’s leading television news channels, Geo News and ARY News, withdrew reports on Thursday that claimed former U.S. President Donald Trump was planning a visit to Pakistan later this year. The retractions came after the White House firmly denied any such plans.
“A trip to Pakistan has not been scheduled at this time,” a White House official said in response to the reports that circulated earlier in the day.
Both Geo News and ARY had initially reported that Trump was expected to visit Pakistan in September 2025. However, the story quickly unraveled after the Pakistani Foreign Office stated it had no knowledge of any such planned visit. Following this, the channels withdrew their stories, with Geo News publicly apologizing.
“Geo News apologises to its viewers for airing the news without a verification,” the channel stated in an on-air clarification. ARY News also retracted its report, and a senior official from the channel told Reuters that the decision was made after receiving clarification from the Foreign Office.
The false reports briefly stirred speculation, particularly given the rarity of such high-level visits. The last visit to Pakistan by a sitting U.S. president occurred nearly two decades ago when President George W. Bush visited in 2006.
Ties between Washington and Islamabad appeared to receive a diplomatic boost recently after Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House last month. The meeting was described by analysts as “unprecedented,” signaling a possible recalibration of U.S.-Pakistan relations. However, officials have not announced any follow-up visits or engagements.
The incident highlights the sensitivity and importance of verification in diplomatic reporting, particularly in a region where geopolitical narratives can shift rapidly. While Trump remains a prominent political figure ahead of the 2024 U.S. election cycle, any official engagement with foreign governments is subject to close scrutiny and formal channels of communication.
For now, both U.S. and Pakistani officials have confirmed that no presidential visit is on the agenda, urging media outlets to rely on verified sources when reporting on such matters of international significance.
