Top Diplomat Interrupts Trump with Scrawled Note on Gaza Peace Deal
A pressing handwritten note delivered to the President by his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, suggested that an announcement regarding a ceasefire deal in Gaza might be made very soon.
Recorded in a photograph, the note's contents encouraged the president to approve a post on his Truth Social platform to announce the news before others.
"Nearly there," the note read, according to the image. "We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first."
Not long after the note was revealed, Trump posted on his platform, expressing he was "very proud" to announce the initial stage of the deal.
"This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will pull back their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Long-lasting, and Enduring Peace," he stated.
The Moment the Note Was Passed to Trump
Trump was holding a roundtable event with conservative influencers about far-left groups when Rubio, positioned in the rear of the White House's Blue Room, caught his eye.
He had news for Trump, he explained, but it would have to wait until after the media left. Subsequently, Rubio passed the president the message.
"I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying that we're very close to a deal on the Middle East, and they're gonna need me soon," Trump said. "So we'll take a couple of more questions."
Behind the Scenes of the Peace Talks
The event had already been going on for more than an hour when Rubio came forward. The president welcomed him to enter, and Rubio whispered something to Trump before giving him the note.
The note's pressing nature came as Trump's top Middle East adviser, Steve Witkoff, Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and other high-ranking diplomats participated in a third round of peace talks between Israel and Hamas at an Egyptian resort – a sign that negotiators aim to dive deeply into the most challenging topics of a US plan to halt hostilities in Gaza.
Trump's Comments on Overseas Trip
Trump had kicked off the gathering by informing the press that he intended to travel to the Middle East "toward the end of the week" and could even "make the rounds" in the region to Cairo and perhaps Gaza as US diplomats neared completion of a deal.
Nevertheless, even after Rubio gave Trump the note, Trump kept speaking to the influencers and take questions from the media as the secretary of state became visibly anxious.
Wrapping Up the Event
Almost 10 minutes after his earlier statement about departing, Trump declared: "I have to go now to try and solve some problems in the Middle East – although I'm ably assisted by our secretary of state. He could likely do an even better job than me, but who knows."
"We don't want to take any chances. So we're going to go and do that," Trump added.
He then proposed that Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem remain and answer inquiries in his stead. However, Trump kept fielding questions before the event concluded without administration officials staying.
"We're gonna get peace in the Middle East," Trump wrapped by saying. "That is exactly what we want to do."