WarRoom Special Coverage: Trump’s Mission To Israel

Podcast: Bannon’s War Room
Date: October 13, 2025
Theme: President Donald Trump leads a historic mission to Israel, facilitating a breakthrough ceasefire, the release of hostages, and setting the stage for a broader Middle East peace deal.

Episode Overview

This episode covers President Donald Trump’s high-stakes visit to Israel, marking the end of a devastating war and the beginning of a potentially transformative regional peace process. As hostages are released and crowds rejoice across Israel, Bannon and his assembled panel—reporting live from Jerusalem, Rome, Los Angeles, and Washington—analyze the implications, political undercurrents, and international maneuvering surrounding this “Jerusalem Accord.”

Key Segments & Discussions

The Historical Moment: Trump’s Arrival & Hostage Releases

• [01:54] Steve Bannon opens, setting a dramatic tone: “President of the United States about to arrive in Jerusalem on Air Force One to meet Netanyahu, welcome hostages back, and address the Israeli nation at the Knesset.”
• [03:24] Matt Farace (live, Jerusalem): Describes emotional scenes and nationwide anticipation; emphasizes that “everyone has been impacted,” likening it to a “family rejoicing.”
• [05:37] Farace relates personal stories of loss: “A rabbi I know…thought his son was alive inside Gaza for 10 months only to find out later he had been killed on October 7th.”
• [06:25] Discussion of mixed emotions: joy for the hostages, anxiety about reported violence in Gaza as IDF steps back.

Regional Dynamics & Peace Threats

• [07:16] Joel Gilbert (Los Angeles): Warns that while Israel “gets to celebrate today,” forces at the upcoming Egypt peace conference aim to extract political concessions and push for a Palestinian state.
• [09:27] Contrasts Netanyahu's declared goals (“release the hostages,” “disarm Hamas”) with what international coalitions seek—disarmament of Hamas remains doubtful.
• [13:00] Gilbert critiques the “fundamental misunderstanding” between Western and Islamic values regarding peace and sovereignty, suggesting temporary celebrations often precede political disappointment for Israel.

Trump’s Press Gaggle on Air Force One (Extended Segment)

• [15:38 – 25:40] Donald J. Trump fields questions:
  • Middle East Peace vs. Government Shutdown:
    “This has been going on for 3,000 years… This is a lot tougher.”
    (Trump, [15:44])
  • Public Sentiment:
    “Everybody is happy, whether it's Jewish or Muslim or the Arab countries, every country is dancing in the streets.”
    (Trump, [16:39])
  • Definitive End to War:
    “War is over. The war is over. Okay? Do you understand that?”
    (Trump, [17:36])
  • Ceasefire Stability:
    “The ceasefire is going to hold. … People are tired of it. It's been centuries.”
    (Trump, [17:49])
  • On Gaza Redevelopment:
    “They're going to have to start by removing a lot of the structures … You have to get rid of what you have there … that process is going to start pretty much immediately.”
    (Trump, [18:49])
  • Board of Peace & Global Buy-in:
    “Everybody wants to be a part of it. I've had calls from all of the leaders … The leaders themselves, they're not going to send somebody. They want to be a part of it.”
    (Trump, [20:09])
  • Verbal Guarantees:
    “We have a lot of verbal guarantees, too, and I don't think they're going to want to disappoint me.”
    (Trump, [20:55])
  • Hamas as Interim Police:
    “We gave them approval for a period of time … They’ve lost probably 60,000 people. That's a lot of retribution.”
    (Trump, [21:26])
  • Credit for the Peace Deal:
    “Everybody knows that's a joke … This should have never happened. That was weak leadership, terrible.”
    (Trump, [23:11], dismissing Biden Admin’s claims of credit)
  • Comparisons with Biden:
    “If a decent president was in, you wouldn't have had the Russia, Ukraine. … This was bad policy by Biden and by Obama.”
    (Trump, [23:24])
  • Relationship with Netanyahu:
    “Very good. He just put me up for the Nobel Prize. … He was the right person at this time.”
    (Trump, [24:45])

Political & Religious Symbolism in Israel

• [11:13] Jack Posobiec:
  “There are posters now going up in Jerusalem … saying that Cyrus the Great has returned. … It's nothing short of biblical.”
• [29:26] Farace:
  “Tel Aviv is by American standards a blue city. … President Trump is somebody in Israel that transcends the traditional political lines because he's a friend and done such great things for Israel.”

Panel Analysis: Risks, Realities, Motivations

• [30:56] Posobiec:
  “Trump reaffirming America’s role … but not doing so in a way that with the neoconservatives, where it’s through conquest … but through direct one-on-one diplomacy. … Not just for the United States, but for the world.”
• [35:54] Kurt Mills:
  “He basically said [Netanyahu]’s a wartime president, leaving open Netanyahu's future in this entire thing. … He wants this to be finito, that he wants this to be the last word on the subject … He doesn’t want to be making a third trip to the region.”
• [49:24] Posobiec & Bannon:
  Ongoing references to Trump’s “Cyrus the Great” image and the profound religious/historical associations attached to his visit.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump on Peace & Leadership:
  “This is the first time they’ve ever seen where everybody is unified. ... Everybody’s into it—it’s never happened before.”
  (Trump, [16:39])

• On Historic Grievances:
  “People are tired of it. It’s been centuries, okay? ... If it normalizes, that would be fantastic.”
  (Trump, [17:49] and [19:28])

• Bannon’s Critique of Israeli Security/Coalition:
  “I just think it looks very shoddy … there’s been two assassination attempts on this guy. He’s all we got, right?”
  (Bannon, [115:03])

• Joel Gilbert on Political Risks:
  “I see nothing but dangers ahead … All the Gulf states, Turkey, Egypt, Macron, … they’re going to stack the deck to make sure Israel is politically defeated and set the stage for the creation of a Palestinian state in Gaza.”
  (Gilbert, [188:36])

• Bannon on Trump’s Role:
  “For all his flaws, he’s what we have between ourselves and in the abyss.”
  (Bannon, [168:00])

Important Timestamps & Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:54 | Bannon sets the stage; emotional national anticipation | | 03:24 | Farace on collective trauma and enthusiasm across Israel | | 07:16 | Gilbert warns of international efforts to force Israeli concessions| | 15:38–25:40 | Trump’s press gaggle: definitive statements on war/peace | | 29:26 | Farace on Trump’s cross-partisan support in Israel | | 49:24 | Panels discuss “Cyrus the Great” symbolism | | 83:29 | Trump’s approach: against neocon foreign policy, pragmatic deals | | 125:47 | Farace describes shofar (“ram’s horn”) celebration in Jerusalem | | 128:54 | Sheva Balkani: “The feeling in Jerusalem today is unbridled jubilation.”| | 133:06 | Joel Gilbert: On dangers of prisoner exchange and Hamas’ strategy | | 138:17 | Bannon: “Israel is not an ally ... they’re a protectorate.” | | 161:03 | Dave Brat: “Peace ... reliant on one man... the transparency may propel a hard peace.” | | 188:36 | Gilbert: “I see nothing but dangers ahead ... setting up Israeli election next year where electorate has to decide between peace ... and [security].” |

Key Insights and Takeaways

1. Massive Emotional and Symbolic Shift

• The Israeli public views Trump as a historic, almost messianic figure ("Cyrus the Great"), credited with achieving what decades of U.S. presidents could not: uniting parties for a peace deal and returning hostages.

2. Political Risks & Fragile Peace

• Commentators warn the peace is extremely fragile. International coalitions may leverage Israel’s weakened position to force concessions, including the groundwork for a Palestinian state.
• Trump claims verbal (not written) guarantees and global buy-in but panelists express skepticism on long-term enforcement and the true intentions of players in Egypt (Saudis, Qataris, Turkey).

3. Structural Changes in U.S.–Israel Relations

• Bannon: “Israel is a protectorate, not an ally.” U.S. direct involvement and “Board of Peace” architecture signals a new, more directive U.S. approach.
• Trump signals he’s not interested in further military engagement.-- “If Israel were to do something after this, the President would not be there.” (Posobiec, [71:56])

4. Human Impact and Public Sentiment

• Hostage families’ trauma is front and center. The focus on their stories (Trump meeting them privately for over an hour) becomes a symbol of empathy and the cost of conflict.

5. Historic First Step, Uncertain Path Forward

• The “Jerusalem Accord” is widely seen as a proto–two-state solution—with Gulf money and Turkish security, and a U.S.-chaired peace board—but details are “soft around the edges” and subject to political sabotage.

Panel’s Closing Thoughts

• Gilbert: “I see nothing but dangers ahead ... Gulf states are putting together a political movement to demand a Palestinian state in Gaza, West Bank, and Jerusalem. ... The Israeli electorate will have to choose between this vision of peace and security.”
• Bannon: “For all his flaws ... he’s what we have between ourselves and the abyss.”
• Kurt Mills: “Trump is speaking to the world today ... making clear this is his line in the sand. ... It would be a humiliation if … our alleged allies immediately broke this deal.”
• Ben Harnwell: “Justice is being done and Bibi is no longer calling the shots over a U.S. administration. ... The graciousness extended to the hostages’ families signals a realignment.”

Summary Table: Key Stakeholders & Positions

| Stakeholder | Position / Motives | |----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Trump/Admin | Broker, peace enforcer, seeks regional “Board of Peace,” heavy personal investment, wants finality | | Netanyahu | Reluctant, “wartime president,” appears politically weakened, less enthusiastic about full peace deal | | Hostage Families | Central to public emotion, demand peace and accountability | | Israeli Public | Jubilant over hostages/future, wary of cost and prisoner releases, hopeful but anxious | | Gulf/Arab States | Pushing for Palestinian state, big financial buy-in, seeking regional leverage | | Turkey | Arranging for Gaza security, assertive regional role | | U.S. Analysts/Panelists| Wary of “shambolic” logistics, critical of unresolved political undercurrents and Trump’s security |

Final Note

As Trump prepares to address the Knesset, the panel underscores that today’s jubilation may mask deeper uncertainties. This is a “deal in motion”: the architecture for peace is being assembled under immense pressure, with global repercussions. The episode captures the weight, symbolism, and precariousness of this “history in real time”—celebrating breakthrough, but bracing for what comes next.

For continued coverage:
Follow up with WarRoom.org at 10:00am for additional analysis of the Egyptian peace summit and the evolving post-ceasefire landscape.