Just moments before President Donald Trump announced to the world that Israel and Hamas had reached a peace deal, a striking photo captured the instant Secretary of State Marco Rubio leaned in to deliver the news.
Trump was in the middle of a roundtable on Antifa’s violent protests in cities like Portland, Oregon, when Rubio stepped forward and quietly interrupted. The president nodded, telling those seated around the table he “might be needed shortly.”
Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci snapped the now-iconic image — showing Rubio handing Trump a handwritten note that read:
“Very close. We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio whispers in the ear of President Donald Trump after handing him a note about a Middle East deal saying “Very close. We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first” pic.twitter.com/ISEJ2RsUOq
— Evan Vucci (@evanvucci) October 8, 2025
Trump did announce the deal a short time later, saying via his Truth Social platform, “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump said. “All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen.”
[h/t The Daily Wire]
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