Travel pool note #13 - presser ends

Trump was flanked on stage by Pete Hegseth to his right and Marco Rubio on his left. Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was in the front row.

He took questions for just over 45 minutes from a mixture of US and foreign reporters. Again, was broadcast live but herewith a couple of highlights.

Started with an opening statement hailing the summit as ‘highly productive’ and calling the NATO 5% deal as a ‘monumental win for the United States’

Also insisted repeatedly on the fact that the US strikes had ‘obliterated’ Iran nuclear sites and that the intel was legit. Hegseth also spoke on this, and bashed leakers.

Trump said he was confident in Iran and Israel ceasefire because they are both ‘tired’ and ‘exhausted’ but acknowledged it could flare up ‘soon.’

He also said that the United States would hold talks with Iran next week.

Said talks with Zelensky ‘couldn’t have been nicer’

Trump was also asked about NATO chief Rutte earlier saying that ‘Daddy sometimes has to use strong language’ — and whether that meant NATO countries were his children

Pool has been hustled to vans and we awaiting departure from summit site.

Danny Kemp

AFP White House correspondent

XXX-XXX-XXXX

@dannyctkemp