January 1, Trump Urges Tough Stand Over Hostages

Wyatt’s Take

• President Trump pushes hard to rescue hostages from Hamas.
• Questions rise over the fate of the remaining captives.
• Trump issues order to hit nations aiding abductions.

On the edge of the second anniversary of the brutal October 7 attack, President Trump spoke about the tough reality for hostages still being held by Hamas.

He shared that some of the 20 remaining hostages might have recently died, but stressed efforts continue to get everyone out.

“We’re in very deep negotiations with Hamas. We said, ‘Let ’em all out, right now, let ’em all out, and much better things will happen,’”

Trump warned that if the hostages stay in Gaza, things could get even worse, but said it is up to Israel to make their own decisions.

Reports say Hamas holds the bodies of 38 dead hostages, with the last count of those possibly still alive standing at 20.

“It’s 20 people, but of the 20, there could be some that recently died, is what I’m hearing. I hope that’s wrong,”

Trump spoke about the pain families are going through, sharing that parents of the lost “want them every bit as much — almost more — than as if their son or daughter were alive.”

He credited his team, including Jared Kushner, for getting many people released in earlier efforts.

“I always said when you get down to the final 10 or 20, you’re not going to get them out unless you’re going to do a lot. And doing a lot means capitulation, that’s no good either.

It’s a very tough situation,” he said. He reminded Americans, “people forget October 7” and that the first attack should not be ignored.

Trump signed a new executive order that lets the U.S. label countries abetting wrongful detainment and level sanctions against them.

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum praised Trump and his team for their resolve to bring loved ones home and hailed his new order as bold leadership.

“President Trump demonstrates that true leadership is measured by bold decisions. We are grateful for his recent executive order that sends a clear message to the world that hostage-taking is fundamentally wrong and will not be tolerated by the U.S. administration,”

As Israel moves ahead in Gaza City, demolishing towers in key neighborhoods, the world waits for a breakthrough on the hostage crisis.

Stay alert to how these tough decisions impact the safety of Americans abroad and the resolve of our leaders to do what it takes.

Wyatt Matters

Standing up to evil and fighting for our own is what matters across Middle America. Strong action, pressure on those who do wrong, and never backing down from what’s right—these are the bedrock American values at play in this story.

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