Stopping short of vowing to add American military might to Israel's fight against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, President-elect Donald Trump repeated his warning for the hostages to be released before he takes office Jan. 20.
"All hell will break out" if Hamas terrorists do not release the hostages before the Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump told Newsmax's John Huddy in a wide-ranging press conference under two weeks before he is set to take office.
At the end of the news conference, Trump added a warning for the outgoing Biden administration to get the hostages back now, or else.
"I'll just say it again: If this deal's not done — to the people representing our nation — by the time I get to office, all hell is going to break out," Trump said before walking off from a news conference that lasted more than an hour.
Earlier, Trump brought Middle East special envoy designee Steve Witkoff to the podium to talk about the ongoing negotiations before expounding on his repeated warnings to hostage-holding Hamas terrorists.
"Look, all hell will break out if those hostages aren't back," Trump said, taking the spotlight briefly from Witkoff, noting there are Americans among the missing hostages.
"I don't want to hurt your negotiation," Trump said with Witkoff at the mic. "If they're not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East. And it will not be good for Hamas. And it will not be good, frankly, for anyone: All hell will break out.
"I don't have to say any more, but that's what it is."
Trump was asked about his next move if Hamas did not oblige, bringing Witkoff to the podium to answer Huddy's question.
"I would say that the president is exasperated," Witkoff said. "I don't want to talk for him. But look, I don't know anyone who delegates better than President Trump. He gives us a lot of authority to speak on his behalf. And he exhorts us to speak emphatically, and emphatically means: You better get it; you better do this because of the alternative."
Asked by another reporter if Hamas was riding out President Joe Biden's lame-duck presidency, Witkoff said, "No, I think they heard him loud and clear: Better get done by the inaugural."
Trump denounced the Hamas terrorist group for waging war on Israel and has long defended Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The hostages "should have given them back a long time" ago, Trump said.
"They should have never taken them; there should have never been the attack of Oct. 7," he continued. "People forget that. But there was and many people are killed."
Witkoff said he is flying back to Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday to resume the negotiations.
"I just say it this very simply: Steve's got a job to do," Trump said. "He's a great guy, great negotiator, great person."
About NEWSMAX TV:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America!
- Find Newsmax channel in your home via cable and satellite systems – More Info Here
- Watch Newsmax+ on your home TV app or smartphone and watch it anywhere! Try it for FREE – See More Here: NewsmaxPlus.com
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.