🔗 Share this article

An pressing handwritten message passed to the President by his top diplomat, Marco Rubio, suggested that an declaration regarding a ceasefire deal in Gaza might be made imminently.

Captured in a photograph, the note's text urged the president to approve a message on his social media platform to announce the news first.

"Very close," it read, according to the image. "You are needed to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first."

Not long after the note was revealed, Trump published on his Truth Social network, stating he was "extremely pleased" to announce the first phase of the agreement.

"This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an mutually accepted line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Enduring Peace," he wrote.

The Moment the Note Was Handed to Trump

Trump was conducting a discussion with conservative influencers about antifa when Rubio, standing in the rear of the White House's state room, got his attention.

He wanted to share an update for Trump, he explained, but it would have to be delayed until after the press departed. Then, Rubio passed the president the message.

"I just received a note by the secretary of state saying that we're nearing completion 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."

Background of the Peace Talks

The event had already been underway for more than an hour when Rubio first approached. The president welcomed him to come in, and Rubio quietly spoke something to Trump before handing him the note.

The note's urgent tone came as Trump's top Middle East adviser, Steve Witkoff, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and other senior officials joined a third round of peace talks between Israel and Hamas at an Red Sea location – a sign that delegates aim to tackle the toughest issues of a American proposal to halt hostilities in Gaza.

Trump's Comments on Middle East Travel

Trump had begun the influencer event by telling assembled journalists 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 passed Trump the note, Trump continued to talk to the influencers and take questions from the media as the secretary of state became visibly anxious.

Concluding the Event

Almost 10 minutes after his initial comments about departing, Trump declared: "I must leave now to try and resolve some problems in the Middle East – although I'm ably assisted by our secretary of state. He could probably do an even better job than me, but who knows."

"We wish to avoid to take any chances. So we're going to go and do that," Trump added.

He then suggested 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 will achieve peace in the Middle East," Trump concluded by saying. "That is exactly what we want to do."