Trump declares a ‘historic dawn of a new Middle East’ in first presidential Knesset address since 2008

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel Monday morning, with the hostage release marking the first phase of the ceasefire deal which he helped oversee between Israel and Hamas already in full swing.

The president was received enthusiastically in Israel for his lightning-quick six-hour visit, before he headed to Egypt for a regional summit.

As Air Force One prepared for landing, the plane flew lower than normal, passing over the beaches of Tel Aviv, where the words “THANK YOU” were written to greet him. 

Upon landing, the Ben Gurion International Airport control tower said that the U.S. president’s visit “carries deep meaning for our people in these times.” 

“Thank you for your friendship, and for the unbreakable bond between our nations,” the tower continued. “God bless America, God bless Israel, and the friendship between our peoples.” 

On the tarmac, as a military band played and a red carpet was rolled out to meet him, Trump was greeted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, with their spouses, along with U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee and Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter. 

Herzog greeted Trump, telling him, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” 

Herzog’s office announced earlier that he would present the U.S. president with Israel’s Presidential Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest honor for a civilian, for Trump’s work in bringing about the release of the hostages and the ceasefire deal, along with his role in the signing of the Abraham Accords and his support during the war against Iran. 

“From his unwavering support for the State of Israel, to the advent of the Abraham Accords which expanded the circle of peace in our region, from the two historic agreements that brought our dear hostages home and saved countless lives, to the decisive strike on Iran’s nuclear program, President Trump’s voice has always been one of courage and leadership, and of steadfast commitment to the pursuit of peace and humanity,” Herzog’s office said in a statement. 

Trump greeted Netanyahu, telling him, “It’s a great day. Maybe your best day,” to which the Israeli prime minister reportedly responded, “This is history.” 

As the president’s delegation was getting ready to depart for his reception and speech at the Knesset, Trump invited Netanyahu to ride with him in the armored car he brought along with him, referred to as “The Beast.” 

Meanwhile, at the Knesset, lawmakers supportive of the U.S. president handed out red, MAGA-style baseball caps with the words, “TRUMP THE PEACE PRESIDENT.” 

Knesset staff distribute red baseball caps patterned on the “Make America Great Again” caps worn by US President Donald Trump’s diehard supporters ahead of his upcoming speech in the Knesset plenum.

The caps bear the slogan “Trump the peace president.” pic.twitter.com/CfG2NFKwGI

— Sam Sokol (@SamuelSokol) October 13, 2025

Arriving at the Knesset, Trump signed the guestbook in his trademark black sharpie, writing, “This is my great honor. A great and beautiful day, a new beginning.” 

Following a series of speeches in both Hebrew and English by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Opposition leader Yair Lapid, all of which he jokingly noted were all longer than planned, Trump himself rose to address the Knesset, receiving a standing ovation from almost all of the the lawmakers in attendance. 

“We gather on a day of profound joy and soaring hope, of renewed faith, and above all a day to give our deepest thanks to the Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” Trump began, as the Knesset erupted in applause. 

“After two harrowing years in darkness and captivity, 20 courageous hostages are returning to the glorious embrace of their families, and it is glorious,” the president continued. 

“Twenty-eight more precious loved ones are coming home at last, to rest in the sacred soil, for all of time, and after so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Trump said, “a land and a region that will live, God willing, in peace for all eternity.”  

“This is not only the end of a war. This is the end of an age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God. It’s the start of a grand concord and lasting harmony for Israel and all the nations of what will soon be a truly magnificent region,” Trump continued.

“This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East.” 

Trump particularly praised Netanyahu for his role in securing the peace agreement. 

“I want to express my gratitude to a man of exceptional courage and patriotism, whose partnership did so much to make this momentous day possible, you know who I’m talking about, there’s only one, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” Trump said, asking Netanyahu to stand up. 

“And he is not easy, I wanna tell you,” Trump said to laughs. “He’s not the easiest guy to deal with. But that’s what makes him great.” The statement drew applause and cheers from the crowd. 

“Let me also convey my tremendous appreciation for all of the nations of the Arab and Muslim world that came together to press Hamas to set the hostages free, to send them home. We had a lot of help,” Trump claimed. 

“It’s an incredible triumph for Israel and the world to have all of these nations working together as partners in peace,” Trump stated. 

“Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change,” Trump told the Knesset. “It will be the golden age of Israel, and the golden age of the Middle East.” 

Trump also thanked several of those in his delegation, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, before turning again to the significance of his visit. 

“As we celebrate today, let us remember how this nightmare of depravity and death all began,” President Trump stated. “Two years ago, on the eve of the Simchat Torah holiday, thousands of innocent Israeli civilians were attacked by terrorists in one of the most evil and heinous desecrations of innocent life the world has ever seen. The worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.” 

“The cruelty of October 7 struck to the core of humanity itself,” Trump continued. “The United States of America grieved alongside you, and we mourned for our own citizens who were so viciously taken that day.” 

“Please know that America joins you in those two everlasting vows, ‘Never Forget,’ and ‘Never Again,” Trump stated to cheers. 

Trump said the Israeli people endured burdens “that only a proud and faithful people” could endure. “But now at last, not only for Israelis, but also for Palestinians, and for many others, the long and painful nightmare is finally over.”

“This is now a very exciting time for Israel and for the entire Middle East,” Trump concluded, before praising the work of the Israel Defense Forces. 

Following his speech at the Knesset, Trump was scheduled to depart for a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, which will be attended by many heads of state from across the region, as well as several Western powers and allies of the U.S. 

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