Rubio Advises Trump During Key Briefing
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was seen leaning in to whisper to President Trump during a White House briefing, presenting him with a handwritten note containing urgent instructions.
Evan Vucci, the AP’s chief photographer in Washington, posted a photo on X showing Rubio subtly speaking to the president. The note emphasized the importance of announcing a recent Middle East agreement soon.
It reportedly urged Trump to approve a post on Truth Social immediately to ensure they were the first to make the announcement.
After providing the memo, Rubio was heard telling Trump, “We’re getting very close. We need you to approve a post on Truth Social right away so we can be the first to announce the deal.”
Meanwhile, Hamas announced on Friday that it was willing to release the remaining hostages and relinquish power under a cease-fire proposed by Trump, contingent on support from Palestinian groups and regional allies. However, it remains unclear how Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will respond to this offer.
Trump later described Hamas’ response as a significant development toward ending the conflict, acknowledging pressure from allies and expressing optimism about the prospect of peace in the region. He remarked, “Today is a very special day, and perhaps an unprecedented day in many ways. We’ve received tremendous support. We’re all united in our desire to see this war end and achieve peace in the Middle East. And we’re very close to achieving that.”
The situation in Gaza is dire, with Palestinians appealing to Hamas to accept terms to end years of conflict. Reports indicate more than 33,000 people have been displaced due to the Israeli operations, and a significant portion of Gaza’s population is facing starvation, according to UN data.
Trump’s plan includes a demand for Hamas to release all prisoners simultaneously and to hand over control of Gaza to an International Stabilization Force led by him and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The proposal also involves participation from Palestinian experts in the new governing framework.
As of now, the White House and Rubio’s office have not replied to requests for comments.
