Morning Jolt: Trump Puts Off the Reckoning for Hamas, Again

WITH JIM GERAGHTY

March 10 2025

Trump Puts Off the Reckoning for Hamas, Again

On the menu today: For the second time in two months, President Trump promises that Hamas will have hell to pay if it doesn't release all the hostages, including one remaining American — but at the same time, the Trump administration has broken with all precedent and held direct talks with Hamas. Trump declared that he was considering tougher sanctions on Russia — with few specifics — but Moscow responded by attacking Ukrainian civilians even more viciously. Syria falls apart, but there's a needed correction to the narrative that Bashar al-Assad was some sort of noble defender of Syrian Christians.

Apparently, Hell Will Be Paid Much, Much Later

Spot the pattern:

Donald Trump, speaking of Hamas and the remaining hostages, February 11:

As far as I'm concerned, if all of the hostages aren't returned by Saturday at 12:00 — I think it's an appropriate time I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out. I'd say they ought to be ...

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