Daines on Fox Business: President Trump’s Peace Through Strength Approach is Working Abroad

• October 2, 2025

U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines today joined Fox Business to discuss President Trump's leadership in the ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine.

Watch the full interview HERE.

Daines on how President Trump's peace deal will help end the war between Israel and Hamas:

Daines: I just returned from a swing from the Middle East. I was in Israel, I was on the border with Gaza in Egypt at the Kerem Shalom port of entry where the humanitarian aid is going through with groups like the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, Samaritan's Purse, they're doing a great job to help the plight of the Palestinians. But boy, big credit goes to President Trump, to Steve Witkoff, to Marco Rubio, for framing this incredible peace deal that's on the table and a big shout out to our Arab partners, the Arab nations. I was in Qatar and UAE as well last week. They've been doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work to actually bring an end to this conflict. What Greta Thunberg is doing, I mean, she is a climate activist. She's pro-Hamas. She is undermining and risking this fragile peace deal at the moment that Hamas must accept. Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump, they've gone out on a limb right now with a 20-point peace plan. But this would do it. It releases all the hostages, the IDF withdraws out of Gaza, and then we put in place this peace board that President Trump would lead with Tony Blair, the Arab nation supporting. This is a moment we can't miss, and this will really reveal the true colors of Hamas. If they want peace, they will accept this deal.

Daines on why Hamas needs to accept President Trump's peace deal:

Daines: At this point, those details remain somewhat on the sensitive and quiet side. But I just cannot overemphasize the important role that Steve Witkoff has played, our Arab partners have played, behind the scenes to get to this point, the ball is entirely in Hamas's court. They need to accept this peace deal. If they do not, you know what Prime Minister Netanyahu is going to do. He's going to finish the job and eradicate Hamas because we will never have true peace in Gaza until Hamas either leaves or is eradicated forcefully.

Daines on how Putin respects President Trump's strength:

Daines: Well, look, if you think about a football analogy, how many times could a football team win if they only had their defense on the field? You've got to have your offense on the field. And Vladimir Putin is not responding to any of the peace talks. He is not negotiating good faith. Putin understands one thing, and that's force. He respects strength. The Ukraine war will only come to an end when Ukraine is in a position of strength. As you see, Putin has only escalated the tempo of this war following the Alaska meetings with President Trump. And so, I think it is an appropriate option to put on the table. That will be up to the Ukrainians to decide if they want to exercise it, but they need to have all the force needed to bring an end to this war.

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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Gabby Wiggins