Trump makes significant statements on Gaza, Ukraine, and Venezuela

During a press briefing at the White House, former President Donald Trump responded to questions about current global issues, highlighting recent talks between his envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump described the meetings as productive, stating that Putin seemed interested in ending the war in Ukraine. He noted that important progress had been made on the Ukraine issue and that the process was moving positively overall.

Turning to the situation in Gaza, Trump said the region was about to enter a second stage very soon. He emphasized that 59 countries supported the peace process, while also recalling that over 70,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—had been killed and 171,000 injured in Israeli attacks since October 8, 2023. Trump accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement and continuing to block adequate food and medical supplies from entering Gaza.

Addressing issues related to Venezuela, Trump claimed a 91 percent decrease in drugs trafficked from the country to the United States during his presidency, which he attributed to his administration’s policies. He mentioned warning Venezuelan President Maduro and stated that after successful maritime operations against drug traffic, “We’ll soon begin land-based strikes as well.” On domestic policy, Trump criticized the Biden administration’s push for stricter fuel efficiency standards for electric vehicles, arguing that these regulations raise vehicle costs and create a financial burden for American families. However, he noted that, if implemented, the proposed standards could eventually save Americans $109 billion in total.