Trump pauses Middle East peace push to honor fallen troops on Memorial Day – Spectrum News
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President Donald Trump paused his pursuit of a peace deal in the Middle East on Memorial Day to reflect and remember the service members who paid the ultimate price.
“In Operation Epic Fury, we lost 13 wonderful souls, wonderful special people,” Trump said in a speech Monday at Arlington National Cemetery, referring to the war launched by the United States and Israel three months ago against Iran. “These incredible men and women gave their lives to ensure that the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terror will never have a nuclear weapon.”
Before his appearance at the event, the president posted an update to Truth Social saying that ongoing negotiations with Iran must “be a Great Deal for all or, no Deal at all.” Though much of the lengthy post pushed for additional Gulf countries to join the Abraham Accords, Trump threatened that if an agreement with Iran is not reached, it would be “Back to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before — And nobody wants that!”
Meanwhile, as the conflict with Iran continues, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance kept their remarks rooted in remembrance.
“Ordinary men, when called, can become our heroes,” Hegseth said at Arlington National Cemetery. “They fought not because they hate what’s in front of them, but because they love what’s behind them. And so may the ones we remember today live on in every flag that flies,”
Added Vance: “That all of us owe a debt. That we owe a debt to the people who went overseas and gave their lives that the United States might be prosperous and peaceful and free. That we owe a debt to the people who put on a uniform, knowing they might never come back. And indeed, today we pay tribute to those who never came back.”
And those tributes continued throughout Monday in Washington. Earlier, Freedom 250, the Trump-authorized organization planning events to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, held the National Memorial Day Parade along Constitution Avenue. In the evening, Freedom 250 is set to host a candlelit observance on the Arlington National Cemetery grounds, where veterans, military families and historians will share stories about service and sacrifice.
On Truth Social, Trump said any agreement with Iran should include a requirement for several additional countries to join the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered agreements from Trump’s first term aimed at normalizing relations with Israel.
Trump said negotiations are “proceeding nicely” but tied any eventual agreement to expanded participation in the 2020 accords. He pointed to Saudi Arabia and Qatar as countries that should “immediately” sign on, quickly followed by Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan.
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates became the first countries to join in 2020, but it remains to be seen how the proposal to expand the accords will be received.
He wrote that “after all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords.”
The president said he brought up the Abraham Accords plan with leaders during negotiations Saturday.
In his post, Trump suggested he would accept “one or two” countries declining to sign, but said most should be willing. Egypt and Jordan already formally recognize Israel and have long-standing peace treaties.
