Secretary of State Marco Rubio handed President Donald Trump a handwritten note during a White House roundtable on Wednesday, urging him to approve a Truth Social post to announce a Gaza ceasefire deal first. The note, captured by Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci, read: 'Very close. We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.'
Trump was hosting conservative influencers in the Blue Room when Rubio, standing in the back corner, caught his eye. After the media left, Rubio passed the note. Trump then told attendees he had been informed a Middle East deal was near and that he would need to leave soon. 'I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying that we're very close to a deal on the Middle East, and they're gonna need me pretty quickly,' he said.
Shortly after, Trump posted on Truth Social, expressing pride in announcing the first phase of the deal. 'This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,' he wrote.
The note's urgent tone came as Trump's Middle East adviser Steve Witkoff, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and other officials joined a third day of peace talks in Egypt. Trump had earlier told journalists he planned to travel to the Middle East later in the week.
Despite the note, Trump continued taking questions for nearly 10 minutes before leaving, with Rubio appearing visibly anxious. 'We're gonna get peace in the Middle East,' Trump concluded.
