Pool Report #9: Quotes from the top and color from the spray
- From
- Chambers, Francesca
- Sent
- Monday, July 7, 2025, 8:35 PM
President Trump was seated in the center of a long table in the Blue Room across from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was on the president’s left, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was on his right. Also seated at the table on the US side were special envoy Steve Witkoff, chief of staff Susie Wiles, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
The president began by saying it was an “honor” to have Netanyahu and his wife Sara back at the White House again. He said they had been “friends” of his “for a long time.”
“We had a tremendous success together. And I think it will only go on to be even greater success in the future.”
Netanyahu opened by expressing “appreciation and admiration” on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people for President Trump’s leadership. He presented the president the letter he sent the Nobel committee. He said that the peace prize would be “well-deserved” and Trump should get it.
“This I didn’t know,” Trump told him, thanking him. “Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful.”
The questions then began and President Trump was asked if he’d spoken with any of the families of the victims of the Texas flood and to talk about what he’d like to do when he travels there on Friday.
“Just make it as comfortable as possible for the state of Texas.” He said he’d be working with the state’s leadership and federal delegation. He said the flood was a “big surprise” that came “late in the evening.”
On the security incident in northern Gaza and whether the number of IDF soldiers killed puts a wrinkle in the ceasefire negotiations with Hamas:
“I don’t think so. They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire, so I don’t think so.”
He asked Witkoff if he wanted to say anything. Witkoff said it was terribly unfortunate, but then, addressing Netanyahu, he said: “We have an opportunity to finally get a peace deal, Mr. Prime Minister.”
On the tariff letters and whether they are final offers:
“More or less final offers.”
He said they have talked to most of the countries but they are always subject to negotiation. “Some of them wanted to make a deal and wanted to be fair. Others, perhaps, got a little bit spoiled.”
“I would say, final, but if they call with a different offer, if I like it, we’ll do it.”
August 1 firm?
“I would say firm but not 100% firm if they call up and say we’d like to do something a different way, we’re going to be open to that.”
On the Palestinian relocation plan, he kicked the question to Netanyahu, who said Trump had a “brilliant vision, it’s called free choice.”
“If people want to stay they can stay,” Netanyahu said. The Israeli PM said he thinks they are “getting close” to finding several countries that will take Palestinians.
The president said there has been “great cooperation” from surrounding countries.
On whether the president is close to peace in this conflict now and others:
He ran down recent peace deals he has achieved. He also brought up Russia and Ukraine and said: “I’m not happy with President Putin at all.”
President Trump said he’s “stopping wars” and said on Russia: “I’m disappointed frankly that President Putin hasn’t stopped.”
On Iran talks and whether the next round has been scheduled:
“We have scheduled Iran talks. They want to talk.”
On possible future strikes on Iran:
“I hope we’re not going to have to do that. I can’t imagine wanting to do that. I can’t imagine them wanting to do (it.) They want to meet. They want to work something out. They’re very different now than they were two weeks ago.”
Date? City? When? Where?
He said he would rather not say but we would see it tomorrow.
Francesca Chambers
White House Correspondent
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@fran_chambers