Trump To 60 Minutes: I Had To Push Netanyahu To Agree To The Ceasefire
In a sweeping and candid interview aired Sunday night on CBS’ 60 Minutes, President Donald Trump recounted his central role in freeing Israeli hostages from Gaza, orchestrating a ceasefire with Hamas, and authorizing airstrikes that crippled Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
When asked directly by interviewer Norah O’Donnell if he was the one who secured the release of the remaining Israeli captives, Trump didn’t hesitate. “I did,” he said. “I got all the hostages out. But I always said the last 10 or 20 are gonna be tough. But we were tough also, and they let ’em all out.” He spoke with a tone of pride and determination, portraying the mission as a test of both grit and strategy.
Pushing back on skepticism about the ceasefire’s durability, Trump insisted that the truce was holding strong. “It’s not fragile. It’s a very solid – you know, I mean, you hear about Hamas, but Hamas could be taken out immediately if they don’t behave. They know that.” His words suggested that deterrence, not diplomacy alone, had kept the peace.
Pressed on how he would ensure Hamas’ disarmament, Trump’s response was characteristically blunt. “If I want ’em to disarm, I’ll get ’em to disarm very quickly. They’ll be – they’ll be eliminated. They know that.” The statement reflected his broader approach to the Middle East — projecting power to maintain control.
Trump became visibly emotional when speaking about the recovery of the remains of murdered hostages. “A lot of the parents… they knew they were dead, in some cases. Do you know that they were as anxious or even more anxious of getting their child out, even though they knew it was a body… than the people that had a living child?” His empathy toward the bereaved families contrasted with his otherwise hard-edged tone throughout the interview.
Addressing his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Trump described a dynamic mix of respect and assertiveness. “He’s a wartime prime minister. I worked very well with him… I had to push him a little bit one way or the other… He’s a guy that- has never been pushed before, actually.” Trump’s remarks hinted at the behind-the-scenes pressure he applied during key negotiations.
He also condemned the legal proceedings against Netanyahu. “I don’t think they treat him very well… we’ll be involved in that to help him out a little bit, because I think it’s very unfair,” Trump said, suggesting that his administration might step in diplomatically.
Turning to Iran, Trump described the precision strikes he had ordered on the regime’s nuclear facilities. “We knocked the hell out of Iran… with those beautiful B-2 bombers… every single missile hit every single air shaft.” He lavished praise on the American pilots who carried out the mission, calling them “very brave people… they’re real American heroes… I gave ’em all a medal.”
According to Trump, the operation was the culmination of decades of preparation by the U.S. military. “They told me something I didn’t know. They said, ‘Sir, for 22 years we’ve been practicing this route… and you were the only president that let us do our job.’” He claimed the result was decisive: “They have no nuclear capability, no.”
As the interview drew to the broader geopolitical picture, Trump reflected on what he sees as his unmatched success in the region. “I made Middle East peace. For 3,000 years they couldn’t do it. I did it.” He framed the Abraham Accords as a cornerstone of his presidency and a lasting legacy of stability.
When asked about Saudi Arabia’s potential entry into the accords and whether it depended on a two-state solution, Trump replied with his characteristic confidence: “No. I think [they are] gonna join… I don’t know if it’s gonna be two-state. That’s gonna be up to Israel and other people, and me.”
{Matzav.com}
