Trump’s week in review: Diplomatic win as US government shutdown continues

President Donald Trump reached a historic peace deal between Israel and Hamas this week that ends the war in Gaza and returns the hostages, two years after the terrorist network attacked Israel on October 7, 2023 — all while the US government remains in lockdown due to gridlock in the Senate.

The president made the announcement on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have signed the first phase of our peace plan,” the president said. “This means that all hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw its forces to an agreed upon line as the first steps towards a strong, lasting and eternal peace. All parties will be treated fairly!”

Hamas accepts Trump’s peace plan that ends two years of war in Gaza and returns the hostages

The President said that the day of the agreement was “a great day for the Arab and Islamic world, Israel and all the surrounding countries and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey who worked with us to achieve this historic and unprecedented event.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers!” to publish.

According to Israeli officials, the living hostages are expected to be released in one phase within 72 hours. The return of the bodies of the deceased hostages will take longer, but Israel insists on including them in the deal.

Trump warned that if Hamas did not agree to the deal, Israel would receive full support from the United States to implement its operational plans in Gaza.

Moments before the president’s announcement, photos emerged from the negotiating room in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, showing senior officials hugging and shaking hands while reports indicated significant progress toward a hostage release deal. Retired Major General of the Israeli Defense Forces, Nitzan Alon, was seen shaking hands with the Qatari Prime Minister, and in the background, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

Trump unveils 20-point plan to secure peace in Gaza, including granting some Hamas members ‘amnesty’

On the other side, Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya and other senior officials appeared smiling.

“With God’s help, we will return them all to their homeland,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

Netanyahu added in a statement in Hebrew, translated: “A great day for Israel. Tomorrow I will hold a government meeting to approve the agreement and return all the dear hostages to the homeland. I thank the soldiers of the IDF and all the heroic security forces – thanks to their courage and sacrifices we have reached this day. I thank from the bottom of my heart President Trump and his team for mobilizing for this sacred mission of liberating our hostages. And with God’s help, we will continue “Work together.” Achieving all our goals and expanding peace with our neighbors.”

President Donald Trump, left, welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, as he arrives at the White House for an April meeting in Washington. (Chen Mengtong/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

The terrorist Hamas movement announced in an official statement, “After responsible and serious negotiations conducted by the movement and the Palestinian resistance factions regarding President Trump’s proposal in Sharm El-Sheikh, with the aim of ending the war of genocide against our Palestinian people and the withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip, Hamas announces the reaching of an agreement that ends the war on Gaza, stipulates the withdrawal of the occupation, allows the entry of aid and carries out a prisoner exchange.”

Trump teases trip to the Middle East as peace deal talks continue in Gaza

“We highly value the efforts of the mediators in Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, and we thank US President Donald Trump for his efforts to finally end the war and completely withdraw the occupation from the Gaza Strip. We call on President Trump, the guarantor countries of the agreement and all Arab, Islamic and international parties to oblige the occupation government to fulfill all its obligations contained in the agreement, and not to allow it to evade or delay its implementation.” “Agreements.”

Trump is now expected to travel to the Middle East on Sunday amid ongoing peace negotiations.

“I might go there, sometime toward the end of the week. Maybe Sunday, actually, and we’ll see,” Trump said Wednesday from the White House as he began a roundtable discussion event focused on the far-left group Antifa.

“We have a great team over there, great negotiators, and unfortunately there are great negotiators on the other side as well,” Trump added. “But it’s something I think will happen. I have a good chance of it happening.”

Meanwhile, the government shutdown continued this week, as Senate lawmakers once again failed to reach a budget agreement.

The Senate leaves Washington as the government shutdown approaches its third week, and military salaries are in jeopardy

Now, senators have left Washington, D.C., and plan to return to Capitol Hill early next week, as Senate Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked.

The government shutdown is expected to cost taxpayers $400 million a day to pay federal employees, according to Congressional Budget Office data. (Chip Somodevila/Getty Images)

Lawmakers voted late Thursday night on the National Defense Authorization Act for 2026, which advanced on a largely bipartisan vote. But the $925 billion package, which authorizes funding for the Pentagon, was effectively the final decision of the week in the Senate.

While there was discussion about bringing the House GOP’s continuing resolution, along with the congressional Democrats’ counterproposal, to a final vote, the plan never came to fruition. It is possible that both have failed for the eighth time in a row.

The president criticized Democratic leaders for shutting down the government in the midst of one of the “most successful economies.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and most Democrats say they will not support funding the government unless congress agrees to extend expired Obamacare subsidies. (Kevin Deitch/Getty Images)

Trump said he was “happy to work with Democrats on their failed health care policies, or anything else, but first they have to allow our government to reopen.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and most Democrats say they will not support funding the government unless Congress agrees to extend expired Obamacare subsidies.

Comey pleads not guilty in court after being indicted on alleged false statements and obstruction

Meanwhile, the president also saw two of his political rivals face federal indictment this week.

Former FBI Director James Comey appeared in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia on Wednesday morning and pleaded not guilty to two counts of making a false statement within legislative authority and one count of obstructing Congress related to the Trump-Russia investigation.

Former FBI Director James Comey is depicted in a courtroom sketch during his arraignment on October 8, 2025 in Virginia. (Federal Court, artist Dana Vercauteren)

Comey’s trial is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2026.

A grand jury indicts New York AG Letitia James for bank fraud in federal court in Virginia

On Thursday evening, New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on charges of mortgage fraud.

The trial of former FBI Director James Comey is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2026. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

A federal grand jury in Virginia indicted James on bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. The indictment centers on James’ purchase of a home in Norfolk, Virginia. Prosecutors allege she falsely claimed it as a second residence to secure better loan terms before renting it to tenants.

James denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusations “political revenge.”

“These accusations are baseless, and the president’s public statements make it clear that his sole goal is political revenge at any cost,” James said in a statement.

New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted for mortgage fraud on October 9, 2025. (Michael M. Santiago)

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James faces up to 30 years in prison on each count, a fine of up to $1 million on each count, and forfeiture if convicted, said Lindsay Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

“No one is above the law,” Halligan said. “The charges alleged in this case represent intentional criminal acts and massive violations of the public trust.” He added: “The facts and law in this case are clear, and we will continue to follow them to ensure justice is achieved.”