Quite a few of us have been looking at developments in the Middle East, primarily between Israel and Hamas, with a healthy dose of skepticism. Hamas, after all, we have learned from long and bitter experience, can’t be trusted to keep any deal.

But, right now, there’s cause for some cautious optimism. The last surviving hostages, held by Hamas since the Oct 7th, 2023, attack, have been released to Israel. The remains of those who were – let’s be honest about this – murdered by Hamas are being searched for now. In a presser just ahead of Monday’s peace talks in Israel, President Trump answered some questions about developments, and what he had to say was revealing.

First, on the hostages.

.@Townhallcom’s @KatiePavlich: “Now that the living hostages have been returned, can you please tell us what the next steps are to this peace deal?”

President Trump: “Well, they’re going and looking for bodies. It’s a pretty gruesome task. And they’re — they know where numerous… pic.twitter.com/nUPvEgVXa5

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 13, 2025

Townhall Media’s own Katie Pavlich asked: “Now that the living hostages have been returned, can you please tell us what the next steps are to this peace deal?”

The President replied: 

Well, they’re going and looking for bodies. It’s a pretty gruesome task. And they’re, they know where numerous are, as you know, I guess five or six are in yet now, but they’re looking for bodies. They know the areas and the search parties out, and they’re doing it in conjunction with Israel. And they’ll, they’re going to be finding quite a few of them.

That was one of the conditions of the deal, of course. It’s long overdue, and some of those bodies that are being sought now may have been returned alive had the deal happened a year ago – but then, we all remember who was seated in the Oval Office a year ago, not doing much of anything. 

Second, on Iran.

🚨Trump on Iran: “They took a BIG HIT…If we didn’t hit them…I don’t think you would’ve been able to have this incredible…once in a lifetime deal!”

“That’s all I do in my life. I make deals. They wanna make a deal.” pic.twitter.com/Uaci0fhoxz

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 13, 2025

President Trump said:

They took a big hit. And frankly, if we didn’t hit them on the nuclear (sic) I don’t think we would have been able to have this incredible… this deal that’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Nobody has ever seen anything like what’s happening today. And countries have all come together. All different countries. Some like each other, some didn’t, most didn’t. And they’ve all come together. Every country has come together. And by the way, Iran did put out a statement, you know, that they support this deal very wholeheartedly. So that was, in itself, something. I think they want to… That’s all I do in my life, I make deals. And they want to make a deal.

Hamas and Iran want to make a deal now because they are looking at the United States and seeing strength. That’s the only thing the mullahs and the jihadis respect – strength. Now, look at this deal unfolding now in the Middle East, look at the hostages who have come home alive, and ask yourself if this would have happened were Kamala Harris in the White House today. 

I think we all know the answer to that.

Finally, a humorous interchange between President Trump and the Secretary of State:

🔥Marco Rubio just set the record STRAIGHT — But Trump had to correct him!

“This is clearly…probably one of the most important days for world peace in 50 years. That’s not an exaggeration.”

Trump: “Only 50?”

Rubio: “Maybe 100!” pic.twitter.com/EzzVOmvoQQ

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 13, 2025

The exchange:

SecState: This is clearly…probably one of the most important days for world peace in 50 years. That’s not an exaggeration.

Trump: Only 50? 

Rubio: Maybe 100!