Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Trump Addresses Israeli Parliament After Hostages Freed; 250 Palestinian Prisoners, 1,700 Detainees Set for Release. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired October 13, 2025 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[08:00:00]

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't want to even think in terms of nuclear destruction. It's not going to happen, never will happen. There's nothing that would do more good for this part of the world than for Iran's leaders to renounce terror, stop threatening their neighbors, quit funding their militant proxies, and finally recognize Israel's right to existence.

They have to do that. They have to do that.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: And to Iran -- and as you know, this is not said out of weakness. That is no weakness. But I'm going to say this, that we are ready when you are, and it will be the best decision that Iran has ever made. And it's going to happen. It's going to happen.

(APPLAUSE)

And they're good people. A lot of the -- I know a lot of Iranians in the United States. They're good people, smart, hardworking people. They don't want to see what's happened to their country.

The story of fierce Israeli resolve and triumph since October 7th should be proof to the entire world that those who seek to destroy this nation are doomed to bitter failure. The state of Israel is strong, and it will live and thrive forever.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: And that is why Israel will always remain a vital ally of the United States of America. Israelis share our values, field one of the world's most powerful militaries.

You really do. You have an amazing -- what a job. What a job you've done.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: And have one of the most innovative economies on Earth. Those are just a few of the reasons why I'm proud to be the best friend that Israel has ever had. And they all say it in the White House. (APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: They all say it. I guess it's true because everybody says it. Maybe you said it today. Thank you.

But as President, I terminated the disastrous Iran Nuclear Deal, and ultimately, I terminated Iran's nuclear program with things called B-2 bombers. It was swift, and it was accurate, and it was a military beauty.

I authorized the spending of billions of dollars, which went to Israel's defense, as you know. And after years of --

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: -- and after years of broken promises from many other American Presidents -- you know that they kept promising. I never understood it until I got there.

There was a lot of pressure put on these Presidents. It was put on me, too, but I didn't yield to the pressure. But every President for decades said, We're going to do it.

The difference is, I kept my promise and efficiently recognized the capital of Israel and moved the American embassy to Jerusalem.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Isn't that right, Miriam? Look at Miriam. She's back there. Stand up, Miriam. Stand up.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Miriam and Sheldon would come into the office. They'd call me. They'd call me. I think they had more trips to the White House than anybody else I can think of. Look at her sitting there so innocently. She's got $60 billion in the bank. $60 billion. And she loves -- and she -- I think she's saying no more. And she loves Israel, but she loves it.

And they would come in and -- her husband was a very aggressive man, but I loved him. He was a very aggressive -- very supportive of me. And he'd call up, Can I come over and see you?

I'd say, Sheldon, I'm the President of the United States. It doesn't work that way. He'd come in and would do -- but they were very responsible for so much, including getting me thinking about Golan Heights, which is probably one of the greatest things that ever happened to me.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Miriam, stand up, please. She really is. I mean, she loves this country.

(APPLAUSE) TRUMP: She loves this country. Her and her husband are so incredible. We miss him so dearly. But I actually asked -- I'm going to get her in trouble with this -- but I actually asked her once. I said, So, Miriam, I know you love Israel.

[08:05:00]

What do you love more, the United States or Israel?

She refused to answer. That means -- that might mean Israel. I must say. We love you. Thank you, darling, for being here.

That's a great honor. Great honor. She's a wonderful woman.

She is a great woman. I've always stood for the people of this community, and I always will. I'll always be with you.

I'm always going to be with you. I guess maybe something could happen to change my mind. Somebody that's really stupid gets into office and wants to do really bad things, but that's about it.

And we don't think we're going to have that happen. I hope we're not going to have that happen. And this man is a good man right here.

These two men are good men right here.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Hey, I have an idea. Mr. President, why don't you give him a pardon?

(CHEERING)

TRUMP: Give him a pardon. Come on.

(CHEERING)

TRUMP: By the way, that was not in the speech, as you probably know. But I happen to like this gentleman right over here, and it just seems to make so much sense. You know, whether we like it or not, this has been one of the greatest wartime presidents.

This has been one of the greatest wartime presidents. And cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?

(CHEERING)

TRUMP: All right, enough controversy for the day, right?

Actually, I don't think it's very controversial. So, you know, I mean, I see so popular. You are a very popular man.

You know why? Because you know how to win.

(CHEERING) TRUMP: Over the past two years, I've met many of the families of the Israelis taken hostage, and those that were taken hostage, unbelievable.

I've looked into their eyes. I've seen the worst nightmares of their suffering. But I've also seen something else, the beautiful love of the people, the love of people, frankly, that hold things together, the love that gives you the courage to carry on through thousands of years of persecution and repression, and to emerge with the heart of David. It's the heart of David.

It's that love that's defeated the enemies of civilization, built this incredible country and this unbelievable economy, and forged one of the great democracies of the world. That is why it's a true honor to stand here today and address this assembly in your ancient and eternal now capital, Jerusalem.

I'm proud to have helped in that regard. This city and this nation stand as living proof that a much brighter future for this entire region is truly within our grasp. For thousands of years, Jerusalem has been a home to Christians, Jews, Muslims, and people of all ethnicities and creeds.

This is the holy center of the world's three great Abrahamic faiths. I like that, too. Adorned -- it's the first time I've seen that word in a while -- adorned with their sacred sites and alive with their pilgrims and visitors from every corner of the globe.

But here, between the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, and the hill called Calvary, people of every faith and background live, work, pray, serve, and raise their families side by side, and they do it with love. This example is just one of the modern miracles that Israel has given to the world. And just in closing, the leaders in this chamber know better than anyone else the challenges of this harmony.

[08:10:00]

And it's been easily won. No, it hasn't. It has not been.

It's been so tough. But it has been, some say, a miracle.

What you've done is a miracle. Look at your size. Look at your chances when it all started.

And you know, if you think about it, you are safer today, stronger today, and more respected today than at any time in the history of Israel. Think of it.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: People used to say it wouldn't exist. They don't say that anymore, do they? Yet if safety, security, and coexistence can thrive here in the winding alleys and ancient paths of Jerusalem, then surely peace and respect can flourish among the nations of the broader Middle East. The God who once dwelled among His people in this city still calls us, in the words of Scripture, the turn from evil and do good to seek peace and pursue it.

So, He still whispers truth into the hills and knolls and valleys of His magnificent creation, and He still writes hope into the hearts of His children all over the world. And that is why, even after 3,000 years of pain and conflict, the people of Israel have never given up from the threats of Zionism, from all sorts of threats. You want the promise of Zion.

You want the promise of success and hope and love and God. And the people of America have never lost faith in the promise of a great and blessed future for all of us. From the very first day that modern Israel was founded, we have stood together through thick and thin of setbacks and through victory and defeat, through glory and heartache.

We have built industries together. We have made discoveries together. We have confronted evil together, and we have waged war together.

And perhaps most beautifully of all, we have made peace together. And this week, against all odds, we have done the impossible and brought our hostages home.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: So, now we're going to forge a future that is worthy of our heritage. We're going to build a legacy that all the people of this region can be proud of. New bonds of friendship, cooperation, and commerce will join Tel Aviv to Dubai, Haifa to Beirut, Jerusalem to Damascus, and from Israel to Egypt, from Saudi Arabia to Qatar, from India to Pakistan, from Indonesia to Iraq, from Syria to Bahrain, Turkey to Jordan, from the United Arab Emirates to Oman and Armenia to Azerbaijan. Another war that I just settled.

We are going to have hope, harmony, opportunity, and happiness here in the spiritual and geographic center of the entire world. That's what you are. Israel, America, and all of the nations of the Middle East will soon be safer, stronger, greater, and more prosperous than ever before.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: And I want to thank you all once again for this exceptional honor. This has been truly an honor. It's seldom that a President is invited to do this.

And I love Israel. I'm with you all the way. You will be bigger, better, stronger, and more loving than ever before.

Thank you very much. God bless you. God bless the United States of America, and God bless the Middle East.

Thank you, everybody. Good luck. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

(CHEERING) KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Donning it, the beginning of a new Middle East, as you heard the President there deeming this the dawn of a new Middle East in a speech that lasted well over an hour before the Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, here in Israel. The President speaking in Jerusalem before Prime Minister Netanyahu, the opposition leader, and a slew of his own aides who were inside the room for this speech.

[08:15:00]

The President lavished praise on Prime Minister Netanyahu throughout the speech, called him a good leader, and said he can be difficult to deal with at times, but said that is what makes him a great leader.

He basically urged Netanyahu. Called him a good leader and said he can be difficult to deal with at times. He said that is what makes him a great leader. He basically urged Netanyahu to take the win of the current dynamic that is playing out, to translate that win into peace here in the region, as he was referencing, of course, the ongoing conflict between Gaza -- or between Hamas and Israel.

And in a remarkable moment there, at the end of the speech, the president went off script many times, but the one that stands out the most was when he turned and called on the Israeli prime minister -- or the Israeli president, President Herzog, to pardon Prime Minister Netanyahu in reference to his ongoing corruption trial.

The president paused for a moment as there was applause inside the room and said that that was something that was not included in his prepared speech as he talked about what this moment means for the United States and for Israel and for the region. He referenced several times he is running quite behind schedule as he was supposed to be in Egypt already for that summit, where he is expected to formalize this agreement.

Instead, as you can see, he is still being applauded here in the Knesset, where he is surrounded by members of the Israeli parliament during his speech.

Also, as the president was speaking there, he talked about expanding the Abraham Accords and what his vision for this region could look like. He referenced Iran specifically on multiple times as he was going through this and also said that he believes, had those U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites not happened, that this agreement, this ceasefire that was brokered last Thursday that the president is hoping will turn into a lasting peace plan, would not have happened without that.

There's a lot in that speech, something really for everyone. We have full coverage across the region. And my colleague and CNN anchor Becky Anderson is in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, where the president is supposed to be there for that historic peace signing.

As all of this plays out, Becky, I'm going to join you in just a moment. Jeremy Diamond is outside a military base -- or outside Sheba Hospital, where we've seen a lot of these hostages arriving as this has played out.

But, Jeremy, I just want to get your reaction first on this speech that happened with President Trump as he was, you know, speaking to the Israeli Knesset and giving these remarks, what your takeaways were.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, Kaitlan, over the course of President Trump's time in office, we have watched as one leader after the next has used this strategy of buttering him up as a way to kind of curry favor or try and get what they want. This is the first time that I have seen President Trump turn that strategy around on another world leader.

And that is exactly what he seemed to be doing as he was addressing the Israeli parliament today, hyping up the Israeli prime minister, touting him as a great leader. And then, ultimately, in what seemed to be the coup de grace of this speech, suggesting that the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, should be pardoning the Israeli prime minister, offering Prime Minister Netanyahu, you know, quite a significant push there, quite a significant moment of political support. The Israeli prime minister, of course, has been on trial for bribery and corruption charges.

And the Israeli president does have the power to pardon him for that. It is a pardon that the Israeli prime minister has not sought as of yet. The Israeli prime minister has not sought a plea deal in this case either, has wanted to go to trial up until now.

But it was a remarkable moment to see the way in which the Knesset reacted, the way in which the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, reacted, put in quite an uncomfortable position. But most remarkably, to see the Israeli prime minister stand up and take in the applause in that moment, his wife, Sara Netanyahu, also applauding that line.

But getting back to this notion of the extent to which President Trump was really heaping praise on Prime Minister Netanyahu, as he talked about this ceasefire deal being an end to the war in Gaza, it was clear that President Trump was trying to get what he wants out of Prime Minister Netanyahu, which is sticking to the ceasefire agreement, ending the war once and for all by using a strategy that really has been used on him so many times before -- Kaitlan.

COLLINS: Yes, that's such a good point, Jeremy. He was basically urging him to take the win here and to bring the fighting to an end. And that comes as notably Netanyahu has not said that he believes the war in Gaza is over, something that President Trump has said not once, but twice now, including in front of the prime minister, as he did when he arrived at the Knesset earlier today.

Jeremy Diamond, stand by. We'll check back in with you.

Clarissa Ward is over in Hostages Square. And Clarissa, obviously, a speech that stretched on for well more than an hour for President Trump there. One of the biggest applause lines there at the end, obviously, though, was that all of the living hostages have now been returned to Israel in this moment in terms of what this means and what he believes they could do going forward now that this has happened.

[08:20:00]

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kaitlan, there was rapturous applause for President Trump his entire more than one hour long speech was broadcast on that jumbotron behind me.

And when he finished speaking, I don't know if you were able to hear it at all. They started playing Simply the Best by Tina Turner. I will say not all of his remarks went down so, so well.

His constant praise of Prime Minister Netanyahu definitely elicited a few boos from the crowds, as did his call for the prime minister to be pardoned. But for the most part, this crowd in this square today are focused on really their gratitude for the U.S. president, who made it very clear in that speech where the U.S.'s alliance is, where the U.S.'s heart is, what the U.S.'s focus is. He did talk about rebuilding Gaza, but he didn't talk about the 67,000 Palestinians who have been killed in this war.

He didn't talk about the fundamental forces that have animated this conflict for many decades. And so there's a sense here that the focus for this crowd is very much on celebrating the win, celebrating the joy of having those 20 living hostages now safely outside of Israel -- outside of Gaza and back here in Israel.

But certainly I think once the sort of elation dies down a bit, there will be a broader understanding that there's a lot of hard work to do. There's a lot of work to do to come. We heard President Trump talking about how people in Muslim and Arab countries around the world are dancing in the streets and love Israel. We are a very long ways away from that.

We saw him get a standing ovation, Kaitlan, when he talked about Hamas dissolving. But there are still huge question marks as to the details of how that will be executed, how that will be inculcated, what this international stabilization force will look like. And perhaps we'll hear more about that when we see President Trump meet with Arab leaders later on today in Sharm el-Sheikh.

COLLINS: Yes, of course, a word, obviously quite a speech watching the crowd react to it live there in Hostages Square, where people have been gathered for nearly 12 hours now.

And I want to go to Nada Bashir, who is covering this from Ramallah. And Nada, there was one moment where people might have missed it or not understood what was playing out inside the Knesset, where there was an interruption in the middle of President Trump's speech, only a few minutes after it got underway.

That was from two left-wing members of the parliament, we are told. One of them was holding up a sign that said, Recognize Palestine. And to the effect that the president moved on from that quickly and got back into his speech where he was praising Steve Witkoff, at one point likening him to Henry Kissinger and saying that he doesn't leak, though. He did talk about Gaza. And in that point, it was talking about Palestinians building their people up instead of focusing on fighting. What were your takeaways from the speech?

And how do you think it's being received there?

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kaitlan. We also heard from the U.S. president really highlighting the support of Arab and Muslim nations, in his words, who he says have pledged support for that rebuild effort. And of course, as we know, there is going to be a huge rebuild effort needed because of the sheer destruction that we have seen across the Gaza Strip.

And as we know, as the ceasefire has come into effect, we've been seeing civil defense forces in Gaza still digging through the rubble, trying to recover whatever bodies they can find now under the rubble. We've been seeing civilians in Gaza returning to their homes, which have been turned into complete and destroyed rubble, trying to salvage whatever is left for many of them. Of course, there is nothing left.

And what we're seeing in Gaza right now, in fact, according to video footage coming out of parts of Gaza, is the arrival of another bus transporting Palestinian detainees who, of course, were released as part of this ceasefire deal. And when we've been speaking to people here in the occupied West Bank, that is something that we've been hearing quite frequently, that there hasn't been enough focus or attention, at least outwardly, from the U.S. president and from other diplomats on the Palestinian side of this deal and the impact that that will have.

Now, we've been in Ramallah all morning. We've seen the release of those Palestinian prisoners who were released here. Now we're seeing these videos emerging of a bus arriving and crossing into Gaza, seemingly carrying more prisoners. It's understood that more than 100 Palestinian prisoners have been transported there for potential deportation.

[08:25:00]

It's anticipated that they will be deported to Egypt, potentially. And we are expecting hundreds more Palestinians who were detained over the course of the war to be returned to the Gaza Strip. It's unclear at this stage how that process will play out, but we will certainly be keeping a watch on that.

But, of course, for many Palestinians, there are questions around what will phase two look like of this ceasefire deal, if indeed the ceasefire holds, what that rebuild effort will look like. And, of course, even though the bombing has stopped for now, the air strikes have stopped for now, and the hope is that that will continue.

There is still a lot of pressure on international agencies, on members of the international community, to ensure and guarantee that humanitarian aid is coming into the Gaza Strip. We've already seen those buses and trucks full of humanitarian aid arriving. But that really needs to be ramped up, according to UN agency, to fill the need, the desperate need that there is in the Gaza Strip at the moment for humanitarian aid, for medical supplies.

Of course, we know the healthcare system in Gaza has all but been destroyed over the course of the war. So that will be a huge focus as well.

But today, for Palestinians, there is a sense of hope. For many here, there is still a huge focus on the Gaza Strip. And while they are certainly celebrating, although in a somewhat muted manner, the release of the Palestinian prisoners today, the focus remains on the Gaza Strip and what the future will look like there -- Kaitlan.

COLLINS: Yes, and there are major questions about that, of course, and what that looks like. We heard Netanyahu say he's committed to peace. A lot of, you know, vague statements on what that means for him going forward in terms of what this looks like and how it plays out.

And I do want to note, as we are watching everything here, the president was scheduled to leave Israel several hours ago. He is running behind schedule for what is supposed to be basically a day trip to the Middle East. We're here in Tel Aviv, where helicopters have been flying overhead.

You can probably hear them, as they have throughout the hour, often ferrying hostages to hospitals as they have been making their way back. It's not clear who's in this one that just flew overhead a few moments ago. But we're watching all of these emotional reunions play out as these medical evaluations are underway.

And as the president himself is now preparing to head to Egypt, where Becky Anderson is in Sharm el-Sheikh. And, Becky, as the president was kind of joking at some points during his speech that the world leaders who are gathered there may leave before he arrives, given how seriously delayed he is in showing up for that signing ceremony. What are you hearing on the ground so far?

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we're not hearing that they've left, although I'm sure they are anxious for him to get here. It probably won't be the first time that some of these leaders have had to wait for Donald Trump. So as we understand it, there are leaders from more than 20 countries here gathered to convene for what is officially known as the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit for Peace, positioned as an agreement to end the war in Gaza.

These are leaders from more than 20 countries, including the PA. Let's just explain who isn't here. Iran was formally invited, will not be coming.

Israel, as we understand it, might have come a little earlier on today, but it seems now Benjamin Netanyahu will not be here on the ground, and of course, nor will Hamas.

To quote Donald Trump, I think this was perhaps, you know, a testament to or reflects the U.S. President's humor. He said, the wealthiest and most powerful group of countries ever convened will be here.

Now, I had Kaitlan, my producer, tell her, just do the math on that. The GDP of those here, the official GDP, is around 25 trillion, give or take. Add the U.S. into that, a near 30 trillion, and what you have is actually half of the world's wealth here.

So what are they trying to achieve? Well, we're nowhere close to where Donald Trump's vision is at present. His vision, I was struck by a number of lines from his speech.

This is the end of the age of terror and death. The forces of chaos stand isolated and defeated. This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East.

I mean, those sentiments and that vision echoed around this region. I live in Abu Dhabi in the UAE, and I can tell you it's been a long time that that sort of vision has been part of the narrative there, and people around this region are looking to navigate a new Middle East, move on from conflict, move towards economic integration. But we are not there, not yet.

I spoke to the Egyptian foreign minister just earlier on today about what the expectations are for this summit here, and he said it was about maintaining momentum.

[08:30:00]