Trump news at a glance: a note, a whisper and the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal | Trump administration
It started with a whisper. Marco Rubio interrupted Donald Trump’s roundtable with conservative influencers discussing antifa, speaking softly into Trump’s ear. Rubio handed the president a note that said “Very close. We need you to approve a Truth Social release soon so you can announce a deal first.”
Shortly afterward, Trump posted on Truth Social that the “first phase” of a peace plan to suspend fighting and release some hostages and prisoners held in Gaza had been agreed to by Israel and Hamas, bringing the best hope so far of a definitive end to a bloody two-year conflict.
“This means that ALL hostages will be released very soon and Israel will withdraw its troops along an agreed-upon line as the first step toward a strong, lasting, everlasting peace,” Trump wrote.
Trump welcomes first step towards peace
Donald Trump hailed what he called a “great day” for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel and all surrounding nations, as well as the United States.
“We thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, who worked with us to make this historic and unprecedented event happen. Blessed are the peacemakers!” he posted.
Hamas said Thursday it had reached an agreement after negotiations on the proposal, confirming that the agreement included an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave and an exchange of hostages and prisoners.
In response to the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “With God’s help, we will bring them all home.” »
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Republican lawmakers praise Trump for Gaza deal as Palestinian Americans remain wary: ‘Much remains unclear’
As Republican lawmakers lined up to congratulate Donald Trump on Wednesday for brokering a tentative agreement on the “first phase” of a deal between Israel and Hamas aimed at ending the fighting in Gaza and securing the release of remaining Israeli hostages, Palestinian Americans were more cautious.
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Kristi Noem compares antifa to MS-13, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic State
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday compared antifa to MS-13, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic State, calling the loosely affiliated network of anti-fascist street activists “just as dangerous” as designated terrorist organizations during a White House roundtable.
“They are just as sophisticated as the MS-13, as the TDA [Tren de Aragua]“Like Isis, like Hezbollah, like Hamas, like all of them, they are just as dangerous,” Noem said. “They have an agenda to destroy us, just like the other terrorists we have been dealing with for many, many years.”
The roundtable featured right-wing social media journalists such as Andy Ngo, Nick Sortor, Katie Daviscourt and others who cover left-wing protests.
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Deadlock over US shutdown deepens as senators reject competing bills
The impasse over ending the U.S. government shutdown deepened further on Wednesday, with senators once again rejecting competing bills to revive funding, while Democrats and Republicans remain focused on their demands to reopen federal agencies.
Lack of funding has forced federal government offices, national parks and other operations to close or scale back operations, while employees have been furloughed. Signs of strain have increased in recent days in areas of the federal government that have remained operational, with staff shortages reported at U.S. airports as well as air traffic control centers.
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IRS to furlough nearly half of its workforce due to government shutdown
The Internal Revenue Service will furlough nearly half of its employees – about 34,000 – due to the ongoing government shutdown.
In a statement released Wednesday, the IRS said that “due to the expiration of the credits,” it would begin its furlough on Oct. 8 for “everyone except previously identified excluded and exempt employees.”
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Trump calls for jailing Chicago mayor, Illinois governor as National Guard arrives in city
Donald Trump on Wednesday called for the jailing of Brandon Johnson, the mayor of Chicago, and JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, accusing them of failing to protect US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents.
“The mayor of Chicago should be in jail for failing to protect the ice officers!” » Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday morning. “Governor Pritzker too!” Both Johnson and Pritzker are Democrats.
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Former FBI Director James Comey pleads not guilty to lying to charges against Congress.
Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday to federal charges that he lied to Congress in 2020.
Comey entered the federal courthouse shortly before 10 a.m. through a private entrance. He was joined in court by his legal team, as well as his wife and daughter, Maurene, who was fired last month as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. Troy Edwards Jr., Comey’s son-in-law who resigned as prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia immediately after Comey’s indictment, was also seen at the courthouse.
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