President Trump called this moment a “big day” because the hard work of real diplomacy — backed by toughness and clear deadlines — appears to be producing results where timid career diplomats failed. He has used bold, unashamed American leadership to rally regional partners and force a stalled negotiation into a decisive moment, and that is exactly what the world expects from a commander in chief.
The president’s 20-point plan sets clear, American-led terms: an immediate ceasefire framework, a staged Israeli withdrawal tied to guarantees, and a hostage-for-prisoner exchange designed to get captives home quickly. Trump gave Hamas a stark ultimatum — accept the deal by Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern or face consequences — a rare display of clarity in foreign policy that leaves no room for moral equivocation.
Against the backdrop of endless delay and hedging, Hamas has reportedly given a conditional acceptance of parts of the proposal, including agreeing to the exchange formula that would free the remaining 48 hostages. This is a breakthrough that should be celebrated cautiously: families who have endured unimaginable pain deserve every possible effort to bring loved ones home, and any credible sign of movement must be pushed to completion.
President Trump also ordered Israeli forces to temper their bombing where necessary to facilitate safe releases, a pragmatic move that prioritizes getting people back to their families while keeping pressure on terrorists. That kind of operational coordination, backed by strong leverage, is how you convert words on a page into freed captives and an end to fighting; weak, wishful statements do not.
Experienced negotiators on the air have noted the same thing. Former acting hostage envoy Hugh Dugan, who has long advised on these matters on Fox, explained that the mechanics of hostage exchanges are messy but entirely achievable when mediators hold the line and demand compliance. Voices that actually know how negotiations work are vindicating the tough-but-practical approach the White House has taken, rather than the endless moralizing we hear from elite pundits.
Let us be honest: the American people want decisive results, not lectures. Trump’s blend of pressure, diplomacy with regional partners, and a willingness to use American influence has given the world its best chance in years to see hostages released and the killing stopped — and conservatives should cheer leadership that produces outcomes, not excuses.
Make no mistake, Hamas remains untrustworthy, and the group’s refusal to commit unequivocally to disarmament is a glaring red flag that demands vigilance. If Hamas tries to game the process, President Trump’s deadline and warnings are entirely appropriate; freedom for innocents and the security of Israel and its neighbors must come first, and the United States should not blink when confronting barbarism.
