US President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday held an expanded Cabinet meeting at the White House, addressing issues ranging from ongoing negotiations with Iran and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz to Ebola preparedness, immigration detention protests, and domestic anti-fraud initiatives.Trump said talks with Tehran were progressing “well” but warned that military action could resume if an agreement was not reached, insisting that Iran was “negotiating on fumes.” He also ruled out any arrangement that would allow Iran or Oman to control the Strait of Hormuz, saying: “We will monitor it, but no one will be able to control it.”The US President also addressed the expanding conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, defended conditions at an immigration detention center in New Jersey, supported plans to establish an Ebola treatment center in Kenya for Americans at risk abroad, and highlighted his administration’s anti-fraud campaign.
Trump also spent several minutes discussing renovation projects at Washington landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Iran negotiations And the threat of more strikes
Donald Trump said that Iran is keen to reach an agreement with Washington, but added that the United States is still not satisfied with the current terms. “They desperately want to reach an agreement,” Trump said. “So far, they haven’t gotten there. We’re not happy about it, but we will be.”He also warned of renewed military action if negotiations collapse.
“Either that or we have to finish the job,” Trump said.
‘No one will be able to control it’: Trump’s warning about the Strait of Hormuz and Oman
Trump ruled out any arrangement that would allow Iran or Oman to control the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as international waters. He added: “We will monitor the matter, but no one will be able to control it.”He also issued a warning to Oman after being asked about a possible joint administration proposal related to Iran. Trump said: “Oman will act like everyone else or we will have to blow it up.”
Midterm election pressures
Trump rejected the idea that the upcoming midterm congressional elections would affect his strategy toward Iran. “They thought they were going to outrun me. You know, we were going to outrun him. He got the midterms,” Trump said. “I don’t care about the midterms.”
Republican concerns about a potential Iran deal
Trump said he would not support Russia or China acquiring Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of any future agreement with Tehran. “That wouldn’t make me feel good,” Trump said. Under the proposed framework being discussed, Iran could give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief. The emerging agreement has also drawn criticism from many Republican lawmakers, who say some aspects of it resemble the Iran nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama.
The conflict between Israel, Hezbollah and Lebanon
Trump’s Cabinet meeting also comes as fighting intensifies between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced expanded military operations against Hezbollah, while Iran reportedly insisted that any ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran must also include Lebanon.
Ebola response and travel screening
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration is intensifying its efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in Africa and prevent infected individuals from entering the United States.“Our first foreign policy priority is protecting the American people,” Rubio said during the Cabinet meeting.
“We cannot and will not allow any cases of Ebola into the United States.”Rubio said the State Department is coordinating with agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services to contain the outbreak in affected countries and monitor travelers entering the United States.Officials also expanded enhanced Ebola screening procedures for travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda.
Travelers who have visited those countries in the past 21 days are currently being directed through select airports, including Washington Dulles International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.The administration reportedly plans to establish a treatment and quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans exposed to Ebola abroad.
Immigration detention protests
Trump defended conditions at an immigration detention center in New Jersey, where there were reports of protests and hunger strikes. “We run the best facilities anywhere in the world — of their kind — but we have some horrific killers,” Trump said.
Washington Renewal Projects
In a lighter moment, Trump spent several minutes discussing plans to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and World War II Memorial in Washington.“We cleaned it, we fumigated it,” Trump said as he described work on the reflecting pool, which he said would be repainted “American flag” blue.The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, is among the most recognizable landmarks in the US capital and has hosted many historical events, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The adjacent World War II Memorial honors the 16 million Americans who served during World War II and the more than 400,000 people killed in the conflict.
Social Security Fraud Task Force
Vice President J.D. Vance highlighted anti-fraud efforts involving Medicare, Medicaid and student assistance programs during the meeting. Trump praised the initiative, saying it “brings our country back to honesty.”
