00:00The Trump administration was notified by the United States military that Israel was attacking Hamas,
00:05which, very unfortunately, was located in a section of Doha, the capital of Qatar.
00:11Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States
00:17that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace,
00:22does not advance Israel or America's goals.
00:24The president views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the United States
00:29and feels very badly about the location of this attack.
00:33President Trump wants all of the hostages in Gaza and the bodies of the dead released
00:38and this war to end now.
00:41President Trump also spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the attack.
00:46The prime minister told President Trump that he wants to make peace.
00:49Regarding the Israeli strike in Doha, how much time or how much of a heads up did the U.S. get
00:55and does the president support the strike?
00:57Sure. Well, I have a statement to read for all of you with respect to the Israeli strike in Doha.
01:02And here it is.
01:03This morning, the Trump administration was notified by the United States military
01:07that Israel was attacking Hamas, which, very unfortunately, was located in a section of Doha,
01:14the capital of Qatar.
01:15Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States
01:21that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace,
01:25does not advance Israel or America's goals.
01:29However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza,
01:34is a worthy goal.
01:36President Trump immediately directed Special Envoy Whitcoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack,
01:42which he did. The president views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the United States
01:47and feels very badly about the location of this attack.
01:51President Trump wants all of the hostages in Gaza and the bodies of the dead released
01:57in this war to end now.
02:00President Trump also spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the attack.
02:04The Prime Minister told President Trump that he wants to make peace and quickly.
02:09President Trump believes this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for peace.
02:15The president also spoke to the Amir and Prime Minister of Qatar
02:18and thanked them for their support and friendship to our country.
02:22He assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil.
02:26And to be clear, the president disagrees with the location of the strike
02:29and that he passed that along to the Prime Minister Netanyahu.
02:31The president just confirmed that in the statement that I just read to you,
02:35which I spoke with him about before coming out here.
02:38Thank you, Caroline.
02:40So is the president upset with Netanyahu now?
02:42The president made his thoughts and concerns about this very clear.
02:47And he spoke again both to Prime Minister Netanyahu
02:49and also the Amir and the Prime Minister of Qatar after this attack.
02:54And the president has always made it very clear that he wants peace in the Middle East,
02:58just like he sought that and accomplished that in his first term.
03:00He expects all of our allies and friends in the region,
03:03that includes both Qatar and Israel, to seek peace as well.
03:07And he wants to see that happen.
03:08And he's working with all of our allies in the region to get that done.
03:12Are there any consequences, so to speak, for Netanyahu doing this,
03:16as it sounds, against the president's wishes,
03:20or at least his belief that it was appropriate?
03:23Is there going to be any directive from the president to Netanyahu
03:27in terms of what's allowed in the future?
03:29And also, is there any concern this could jeopardize the Abraham Accords?
03:33Look, that's a decision only the president can make.
03:36With respect to your first question, to answer your second question,
03:38as you heard from the president,
03:40he said he believes that this can serve as an opportunity for peace,
03:43and he's still actively and aggressively pursuing it
03:46with all of our allies and partners in the region.
03:48Jennifer.
03:48Just to follow up on that, Caroline,
03:50are you able to say how often the president spoke
03:52to the prime minister of Israel before this?
03:55Because he, that's one question,
03:56and then what did he mean on Sunday when he posted,
03:59I've given my last warning to Hamas, etc.?
04:02He wasn't talking about this strike on Doha?
04:05No, he was not.
04:06As I told you, the Trump administration was notified
04:08by the United States military that Israel was attacking Hamas,
04:12and the president spoke to the prime minister after the attack,
04:15as well as, again, the emir and the prime minister of Qatar.
04:18And I know Secretary Rubio and Special Envoy Whitcoff
04:21were present for that call with the Qataris as well.
Comments