🔗 Share this article

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

Recorded in a photograph, the note's text encouraged the president to authorize a post on his Truth Social network to announce the news before others.

"Nearly there," it read, as shown in the photo. "We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first."

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

"This indicates that ALL of the Hostages will be released shortly, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an mutually accepted line as the first steps toward a Robust, Long-lasting, and Everlasting Peace," he wrote.

The Incident the Note Was Handed to Trump

Trump was conducting a roundtable event with right-leaning commentators about far-left groups when Rubio, standing in the rear of the White House's Blue Room, got his attention.

He wanted to share an update for Trump, he said, but it would have to wait until after the press left. Then, Rubio handed the president the note.

"I just received 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. "Therefore, we will address a couple of more questions."

Behind the Scenes of the Peace Talks

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

The note's pressing nature coincided with 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 day of negotiations between Israel and Hamas at an Egyptian resort – a indication that negotiators are working to tackle the most challenging topics of a American proposal to halt hostilities in Gaza.

Trump's Comments on Middle East Travel

Trump had begun the influencer event by telling the press that he intended to travel to the Middle East "near the conclusion of the week" and could even "visit multiple locations" in the region to Egypt and perhaps Gaza as US negotiators neared completion of a deal.

Still, even after Rubio passed Trump the note, Trump kept speaking to the influencers and respond to queries from the media as the secretary of state became visibly anxious.

Concluding the Meeting

Nearly 10 minutes after his initial comments about leaving, Trump declared: "I have to go now to try and resolve some problems in the Middle East – although I'm very well represented by our secretary of state. He could probably 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 suggested that Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem remain and answer inquiries in his absence. Nonetheless, Trump kept fielding questions before the event concluded without Cabinet members staying.

"We will achieve peace in the Middle East," Trump wrapped by saying. "That's what we want to do."