During their meeting at the White House, Trump tells the Lebanese President: “You can have anything” - Sarmad
(Anadolu) – U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday his readiness to speak with Hezbollah if requested to do so by his Lebanese counterpart, Joseph Aoun.
The remarks came during a press conference bringing together Trump and Aoun at the White House, as part of Aoun’s ongoing visit to the United States, which began on July 18.
Trump stated, “I will talk to Hezbollah. I talk to everyone, and I will talk to people whom many believe I should not talk to, and (but) things get resolved.”
He added, “If President Aoun wants me to talk to Hezbollah, I will do it.”
In response to a question regarding the complete withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army from Lebanon, Trump claimed that Israeli forces were “in the process of redeploying to other areas.”
He noted that Lebanon had “been treated poorly for a long time” and deserved a greater measure of respect.
He added, “We will work to ensure that Lebanon is treated decently and with the respect it deserves.”
On June 26, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a “framework agreement” under U.S. sponsorship aimed at ending the war on Lebanon and securing the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army.
The agreement stipulates a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories, beginning with the implementation of a model in “pilot areas.” The Lebanese army will assume security responsibilities in areas from which Israeli forces withdraw, alongside the disarmament of armed groups, a reference to Hezbollah.
For his part, the Lebanese President said, “I thank President Trump for his assistance in reaching this historic achievement through the signing of the framework agreement with Israel.”
He clarified that “the ultimate goal is to permanently end the state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel.”
According to the Lebanese News Agency, Aoun told Trump, “It is time for Lebanon to enjoy peace, and together we can achieve that.”
He continued, “It is time for Lebanon and the entire region to enjoy stability and security.”
Aoun pointed out that “the Lebanese army needs support; it is the backbone of stability in the country, it is doing its job, and I trust it and its leadership.”
He stated that he had requested political support from his American counterpart, emphasizing that “the time has come to realize President Trump’s vision that peace should prevail in the region.”
The meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun featured special moments of interaction between the two, distinct from formal protocol.
When Donald Trump extended his hand to his Lebanese counterpart and yielded the floor for him to speak, Aoun promptly affirmed his happiness and pride at meeting President Trump, praising his leadership qualities.
The Lebanese President said, “I have been looking forward to this visit for a long time. It is a great honor for me to meet a great president like you.”
Before Aoun concluded his remarks, Trump interjected, expressing admiration for what the Lebanese President had said, commenting quickly, “That’s kind of you.”
Trump then elaborated, saying, “You see? He knew how to win me over... and now he can get anything.” He repeated the phrase “he can get anything” with a broad smile, adding, “No one is like him.”
Trump’s comments triggered waves of laughter in the White House room, which was filled with officials and journalists.
On Monday, the U.S. State Department announced the “start of operations in the pilot area in the villages of Faroun, Sarafa, and Western Zouitar, in accordance with the trilateral framework and under the sponsorship of the Special Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.”
Despite these developments, the Israeli occupation army continued to violate the agreement by carrying out a series of massive explosions in scattered areas of southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese News Agency.
Since March 2, 2026, Israel has continued its aggression against Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 4,328 people and injuries to 12,230 others, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the clashes between 2023 and 2024, and has penetrated more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory during the current aggression.
