Trump’s warning to Hamas: US President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stark warning, claiming that there could be serious consequences in the Middle East if hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are not released before his inauguration on January 20. Speaking at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump stated, He said that it will not be good for Hamas and that “all hell will break out in the Middle East.” He also said that the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas should never have happened.
Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff, whom Trump has appointed as his special envoy to the Middle East, remains optimistic about the ongoing ceasefire negotiations aimed at securing the hostages’ release. Witkoff mentioned that significant progress had been made, with Trump‘s reputation playing a key role in driving the negotiations forward. However, Biden administration officials have expressed caution, indicating that the talks remain challenging despite Witkoff’s hopeful outlook. The Biden team has been working closely with Trump’s national security team on these efforts, though past attempts to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages have failed.
Trump on Panama Canal and Greenland
In another controversial remark, Trump did not rule out using military or economic means to claim the Panama Canal and Greenland, or even to acquire Canada. When questioned about using “coercive” tactics to achieve this, he responded that they need them for economic security, suggesting that Denmark should give up control of Greenland or face high tariffs. He also hinted that Greenland’s people could vote on whether to join the US.
Panama Canal is a disgrace, says Trump
Trump also criticised former President Jimmy Carter’s decision to return control of the Panama Canal to Panama, calling it a “disgrace.” Additionally, Trump announced plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” saying it sounded more fitting and would cover a larger area.