Urgent Note Handed To Donald Trump By Secretary of State Exposed By Zoomed-In Photo

A close-up photo captured during an October 8 White House roundtable revealed a handwritten note from Secretary of State Marco Rubio to President Donald Trump, signaling the moment before Trump announced a breakthrough Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. The image showed Rubio passing a folded paper to Trump, after which the president hinted the U.S. was “very close to a deal on the Middle East.”

The note, clearly legible in the photo, read: “You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.” Hours later, Trump posted that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of his “Peace Plan,” promising the release of hostages and a partial Israeli troop withdrawal.

Israeli officials later confirmed their security cabinet approved an outline for a staged truce and prisoner exchange, marking major progress after months of mediation by the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Crowds gathered in Tel Aviv and Gaza in response to the announcement.

According to the Associated Press, the note was passed during a discussion about domestic issues, underscoring how swiftly routine events can give way to urgent diplomacy. Officials did not dispute the authenticity of the message.

Trump’s social media post mirrored coordinated language from U.S. partners, thanking mediators and calling it a “historic event.” He suggested he might travel to Egypt as part of the next negotiation phase.

International leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, praised the deal as a key step toward lasting peace, while analysts warned implementation would be complex.

The photo of Rubio’s note became symbolic—a glimpse into how a single sentence shifted a meeting’s focus and set the stage for a historic diplomatic announcement.