Remarks and an Exchange With Reporters Prior to Departure From Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The President. Hello, everybody.

So enjoy your flight. That was a great 4 days. It was—I think it was a historic 4 days. The jobs and money coming into our country is—there's never been anything like it. You see that. And the companies are American-based companies. They're doing work that wouldn't have been available to them, except for November 5. November 5 was a big day for our country.

So I just wanted to thank you. You have great stamina also. [Laughter] We all have stamina, because you needed it. That was a test. I think they were giving us a test.

But it was amazing what they've done in all three countries. You can't speak more highly. This—the job they've done is—in a fairly short period of time is just outstanding. And they're great people, great leaders. Great leaders—three great leaders. So it's an honor.

Now we'll go back to DC, and I have a nice grandchild waiting, which I'll see soon.

But this was a fantastic moment for our country. I really believe that. Everyone is talking about it, and the respect shown to our country was incredible, because nobody is treated like that. Nobody is treated well like that.

So thank you all very much. Thank you very much. See you——

Cease-Fire and Hostage-Release Deal Between Israel and Hamas

Q. Mr. President, you arrived here with a big victory——

The President. [Inaudible]

Q. Nice to see you. Thanks for bringing us.

The President. Good.

Q. You arrived here with a big victory: getting Edan Alexander out——

The President. Yes.

Q. ——working directly with Hamas, the last remaining American. Do you think the Israelis and Bibi Netanyahu can get his hostages out?

The President. I don't know. We're going to find out pretty soon. We're going to know pretty soon.

They're not in good shape, as you know. And different places—you know, it's not one place. It's different places. Some of them are in better shape than others. A little bit depends on the place where they are, but we'll be working with them to get them out.

Syria

Q. The Israelis didn't want the U.S. to be recognizing the new Syrian Government. Is there a message that that—the——

The President. I don't know. I didn't ask them about that. I thought it was the right thing to do. I've been given a lot of credit for doing it.

Look, we want Syria to succeed. That's been a mess for 10 years and much longer than that. It would not have been—these were very biting—you know, when—when you look at the sanctions, these were really brutal. And they would have, I would say, zero chance of success. And this way, they have a chance. Their leader is a strong person, but young and lot of energy and wants to do a good job.

Q. Mr. President——

Gaza, Palestinian Territories/Humanitarian Assistance/India/Pakistan

Q. Mr. President, the IDF was planning to send in tens of thousands of more troops and expand the war in Gaza, especially if there wasn't a cease-fire while you were here. Do you support that?

The President. Well, we're going to see what happens. I think a lot of good things are going to happen over the next month, and we're going to see.

We have to help also out the Palestinians. You know, a lot of people are starving on Gaza, so we have to look at both sides, but we'll—we're going to do a good job.

We're very happy with what happened with—I hope it continues, and I think it will—but what happens with India and Pakistan. That was a big success. If you would have seen the level of anger between the two, that was not a good thing.

Yes.

Cease-Fire and Hostage-Release Deal Between Israel and Hamas

Q. A senior Hamas leader said that they might be willing to give up power—an Egyptian proposal—in order to bring peace. Is that a step that you're welcoming?

The President. Well, we're going to look at everything, but we want to get the hostages back. I've gotten them—you know, a majority—a big majority back, but we want to get the hostages back, so we'll see how that works out.

Okay? Thank you.

President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin of Russia

Q. Mr. President, are you planning to call Vladimir Putin? How do you think you can get those talks on—

The President. I may. No, I may.

Q. ——on track?

The President. I—look, we have to meet. He and I will meet. I think we'll solve it. Or maybe not, but at least we'll know. And if we don't solve it, it will be very interesting.

2012 Disappearance of U.S. Citizen Austin B. Tice in Syria

Q. And then, did Austin Tice come up when you talked to the Syrian President?

The President. I always talk about Austin Tice. No, Austin Tice hasn't been seen in many, many years. You know that. He's got a great mother who's just working so hard to find her boy. So I understand it. But Austin has not been seen in many, many years.

Former President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

Q. You were joking about the endurance that it takes to do this.

The President. Yes.

Q. This was a lot to do in a short period of time. Conversations about endurance often focus now on Joe Biden and his endurance——

The President. Yes.

Q. ——and his abilities. The Hur tapes—right now, there's a lot of discussion about it. When will they be released? Will you release them? How soon should we anticipate it?

The President. Well, I haven't looked into that. That's up to Pam and the group. I haven't really looked into it.

Look, everybody understands the condition of him. I know people that are 89, 90, 92, 93 years old that are literally perfect, but Joe was not one of them. And they did a lot of hiding. They were—they were really playing games. And you know, you can't do that. Our country is at stake.

You see, even a thing like this, there's so many decisions—from billions and billions—but then you have even more important decisions. You have decisions for life, and you can't have a man in that condition. And everybody was holding back, including the press, including the media.

U.S. Admission of Afrikaner Farmers as Refugees/South African Land Reform Policies

Q. Sir, you're welcoming——

Q. On Iran, sir——

Q. ——you're welcoming White South Afrikaners into the country as refugees, when you've closed off that door to a lot of other refugees from other parts of the world. What message does that send? To those who say it isn't, why is that fair?

The President. Well, I think if I see people in distress, I don't care what color, what they look like, what anything. Their size, their height, their eyes—I don't care.

But I think that, from all evidence, the farmers in South Africa are being treated brutally. And it's been reported, and nobody wants to cover it. But they happen to be White, and if they were Black, I'd do the exact same thing.

And we treat people very well when we see there's a genocide going on. So, if it's a genocide, that's terrible, and I happen to believe it could very well be. South Africa is out of control, and it's been out of control for a long time, and the media doesn't report it.

And I'm not looking for reporting because, believe me, it's easier for me not to do anything. It's a lot easier, because I don't get nasty questions like that. But the fact is that we're about saving lives, and we're going to do that.

So we've made a home, and we'll make a home for other people that are treated badly, no matter what their color.

Thank you.

Group of Twenty (G–20) Nations Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa

Q. Will you go to the—will you go to the G–20——

Q. Mr. President, on——

Q. There were a lot of leaders from——

Q. Are you going to go to the G–20 there?

The President. I'm not sure.

Q. Not sure.

The President. I'm really not sure.

Q. Thanks.

Iran

Q. On Iran, has the U.S. given them a formal proposal? Has Steve Witkoff handed that over?

The President. Yes, they have a proposal, but more importantly, they know they have to move quickly or something bad——

Q. How quickly?

The President. ——something bad is going to happen.

Thank you very much.

The President's Daughter Tiffany A. Trump

Q. How's Tiffany doing?

The President. Good. Good.

Q. She's well? Everybody's good at home?

Q. Thank you, Mr. President.

Q. Congratulations.

Q. Congratulations on your grandson.

The President. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Q. Travel safe, sir.

The President. Thank you.