During his White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump expressed optimism about Gaza peace negotiations. Meanwhile, congressional members arrived for shutdown negotiations as the government funding deadline approached.
The White House hosted President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their fourth meeting since January, as Trump presented his Gaza peace plan, while Congress worked to prevent a government shutdown that was set to begin at midnight on Tuesday.
The President expressed his belief that the Middle East will achieve something extraordinary through his peace initiative.
The President expressed his firm belief that Gaza peace negotiations will succeed in the near future during his meeting with Netanyahu in the Oval Office. The President supports his complete peace plan, which requires Hamas to free all remaining hostages within 48 hours and establishes a disputed process for Palestinian statehood.
The President announced on Truth Social that the Middle East will achieve its most significant potential through his peace initiative, which has received complete backing from all parties for the first time in history. WE GET IT DONE!!!” Trump announced on Truth Social, according to The Washington Post.
NPR reports that Trump has created high hopes for a deal, although Israel and Hamas have not officially endorsed it. The President stated, “I think we have a deal,” to reporters on Friday.
The 21-Point Peace Framework Under Pressure
The peace proposal, which Netanyahu’s coalition government must address after presenting it to Arab and Muslim leaders at the UN General Assembly, contains multiple challenging elements. The Times of Israel reports that the plan requires hostage release within 48 hours and provides amnesty to Hamas members who support peace and establishes a path toward Palestinian statehood.
The plan includes two main points according to Deutsche Welle: “After hostage release, Israel will free 250 prisoners with life sentences and 1,700 Gazans who were arrested after October 7.” The framework establishes a step-by-step Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza territory, while international organizations will oversee reconstruction activities.
Netanyahu's hesitation toward the entire plan.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News Sunday that the plan remains unfinished, but Israel continues to work with Trump’s team, according to NBC News.
The international community continues to isolate Netanyahu through official Palestinian state recognition from multiple countries during this month.
The UAE has exclusively informed Reuters that it wants Netanyahu to accept Trump’s Gaza peace proposal during their meeting and drop all plans to annex West Bank territory.
The Israeli Prime Minister maintains his unyielding coalition but faces mounting pressure because discussions emerge about establishing a governance system for Gaza after two years of military battles.
The path ahead remains unclear.
The path to success faces multiple hurdles despite Trump’s positive outlook. The proposal remains unapproved by Hamas, while Netanyahu declared on Sunday that the plan remains unfinished. The peace plan supports Palestinian statehoo,d but several members of Netanyahu’s coalition government maintain opposing views about this issue.
The government shutdown threat looms over Trump’s Middle East diplomatic efforts.
The White House maintained its focus on Middle East diplomacy, yet Washington remained under the threat of a government shutdown.
The Associated Press stated that government offices would close temporarily and nonexempt federal workers would face furloughs when Congress fails to pass funding legislation, which Trump needs to sign by Tuesday night.
The CNN reported that Trump would meet with congressional leaders from both parties during an afternoon session to prevent a government shutdown.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” to state that “We need serious negotiations” to resolve the current crisis.
The president should use this meeting to establish progress instead of using it to express his complaints, according to Schumer.
Shutdown Standoff Escalates Over Healthcare Funding
Congressional leaders from both parties arrived at the White House Monday afternoon for what may be their final opportunity to avert the first government shutdown of Trump’s second term. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune joined Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries in urgent negotiations over a continuing resolution that would extend current funding levels through November 21.
The impasse centers on Democratic demands to include extensions for Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at year’s end and restoration of Medicaid funding previously cut under Trump’s domestic agenda. Republicans maintain these healthcare issues should be addressed separately from government funding.
“We need a serious negotiation,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized before the meeting. “If the president uses this meeting to merely vent and express his grievances, we won’t achieve any progress”.
Despite Republican control of both chambers, Senate Democrats can block legislation through filibuster rules requiring 60 votes for passage. Trump warned NBC News Sunday that a shutdown could trigger permanent federal workforce reductions, stating: “If it happens, we are going to eliminate many of the positions that we can cut permanently”.
White House Prepares Mass Firing Plans
The Trump administration has instructed federal agencies to develop “reduction in force” plans that would extend beyond traditional furloughs during any shutdown. These preparations signal the administration’s willingness to use a funding lapse to permanently restructure federal government operations.
Budget Director Russell Vought’s office sent guidance to agency heads outlining procedures for potential mass layoffs, representing an unprecedented expansion of presidential power during government closures. The administration has already reduced the federal workforce by approximately 200,000 positions, with plans to reach 300,000 cuts by year’s end.
Netanyahu Faces Pressure on Gaza Peace Framework
Simultaneously, Trump welcomed Netanyahu for their fourth meeting since January, seeking Israeli endorsement of a comprehensive Gaza peace proposal following international recognition of Palestinian statehood by key U.S. allies. Britain, France, Canada, and Australia recently acknowledged Palestinian statehood despite American and Israeli opposition.
“WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE GET IT DONE!!!” Trump posted on social media Sunday.
Standing beside Netanyahu at the White House, Trump told reporters he was “very confident” peace would soon be achieved in Gaza. The meeting comes as Israeli forces advance deeper into Gaza City amid ongoing military operations.
Political Stakes and Strategic Calculations
The convergence of these crises reflects broader tensions in Trump’s second term as he attempts to assert executive authority while managing international commitments. Democrats view the shutdown threat as leverage to secure healthcare policy victories, while Trump sees it as an opportunity to reshape federal government operations.
Netanyahu faces his own political challenges, with his ruling coalition appearing increasingly vulnerable as international isolation grows. The Israeli leader must balance Trump’s peace demands against coalition partners who advocate continuing military operations.
Critical Hours Ahead
With less than 24 hours remaining before the shutdown deadline, both domestic and international outcomes hang in the balance. The administration’s unprecedented approach to potential government closures, combined with volatile Middle East negotiations, positions Monday’s meetings as defining moments for Trump’s presidency and regional stability. Whether congressional compromise or presidential confrontation prevails will determine both federal operations and America’s role in Gaza peace efforts.