Steve Witkoff touts ceasefire deal, brings up families of hostages
Steve Witkoff, the first speaker following the parade in Capital One Arena, touted the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Gaza, a day after some hostages returned home.
"This achievement demonstrates the strength President Trump's leadership and the respect he commands on the global stage," Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, said. "It is yet another example of his ability to deliver results in the most complex and challenging situations."
The family members of several hostages, including those whose loved ones have been released and those who are still being held in Gaza, are in attendance. They received a large round of applause from the audience and also shook hands with Trump.
During his remarks, Witkoff also outlined some of Trump's foreign policy principles, including "reciprocity and accountability."
"We are done carrying the financial burden for nations that are unwilling to fund their own progress. The days of blank checks are over," he said to applause.
