Trump Roundtable Discussion on Antifa
During a roundtable event focused on Antifa with conservative influencers, President Donald Trump noticed Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a corner of the Blue Room at the White House.
Rubio mentioned he had some news for Trump, but it would need to wait until the media left the room.
He then handed the president a memo.
An Associated Press photographer captured a close-up of a handwritten note on White House stationery that read, “Your post on Truth Social must be approved immediately so we can announce the deal first.”
“I just received a memo from the Secretary of State saying we’re very close to reaching an agreement on the Middle East and they’re going to need me soon,” Trump explained. “After that, I’d like to ask you all a few more questions.”
Rubio approached the president after the event had been underway for over an hour. The president acknowledged Rubio and listened as he whispered something before handing over the note.
This urgent memo came as Trump’s top Middle East adviser, Steve Witkoff, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani were engaged in their third day of peace talks between Israel and Hamas at a resort in Egypt, suggesting that important discussions were underway regarding America’s plans for ending the conflict in Gaza.
In kicking off the influencer event, Trump indicated a trip to the Middle East “for the weekend” was on his agenda, possibly involving a tour of Egypt and the Gaza Strip as negotiations progressed.
Despite receiving the memo, Trump continued interacting with the attendees and fielding media questions, while Rubio appeared increasingly anxious.
“I need you to approve the Truth Social posting immediately so that I can announce the agreement first,” Rubio stressed in his memo to Trump.
About ten minutes after addressing the crowd, Trump remarked, “We have to go now to solve the problem in the Middle East, and I’m very well represented by the secretary of state. He could probably do a much better job than I could, but you never know.”
He added, “We don’t want to take any risks. So, we’re going to get on with it.”
Additionally, Trump suggested that Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem remain available to answer questions during his absence.
However, Trump kept engaging with the group, and the event eventually ended without any Cabinet members present.
Trump concluded with an optimistic note, stating, “We will bring peace to the Middle East. That’s what we want to do.”
The public didn’t have to wait long for an official announcement. At 6:51 p.m., shortly after receiving the memo from Rubio, Trump proudly shared the news on his social media platforms.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan,” he posted on Truth Social, stating that all hostages would be released “soon” and Israel would withdraw its forces “to the agreed lines.”
He added, “Today is a great day for the Arab and Islamic world, for Israel, for our neighbors, and for the United States of America, and we thank the mediators in Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for working together to make this historic and unprecedented event possible. Bless the peacemakers!”
