TIME Magazine's Front Cover Features President Trump

On October 15, 2025, President Donald Trump gave a phone interview from the White House to TIME Senior Political Correspondent Eric Cortellessa, where he detailed his role in brokering a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

The full transcript was published by TIME today, amid broader coverage of the deal, which was sealed earlier that month and led to the release of all living Israeli hostages (believed to be around 20) in exchange for Palestinian prisoners as part of its first phase.

In the interview, Trump positioned himself as the key architect, crediting U.S. military actions under his administration, such as strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and the earlier killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, for weakening Iran and creating conditions for regional unity.

He described Iran as a "bully" whose removal from play was essential: "When I went in and knocked out their nuclear potential and capability, and it was seriously knocked out... Every bomb hit their mark. It was unbelievable, the attack."

Trump said this paved the way for Arab countries to align with Israel, enabling the deal.Trump recounted personally intervening to end the conflict, including a call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 4, 2025, to halt the war: "I stopped him, because he would have just kept going. It could have gone on for years."

He insisted on the full release of hostages rather than piecemeal returns, telling negotiators: "I said, 'No more of that. You're giving us the f***ing hostages, all of them.'"

The agreement also involved interactions with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the Emir of Qatar, with Trump noting Abbas praised him: "You've done things that no other president would have done."

Key deal elements Trump highlighted include Hamas's agreement to disarm (with threats of "complete obliteration" for non-compliance: "If they renege on the deal now... Yes, they will be in big trouble"), the return of 95% of hostages (all living ones, with searches ongoing for bodies under rubble), and prevention of Israeli annexation of the West Bank to maintain Arab support.

He also mentioned establishing a "Board of Peace" that he chairs to oversee implementation, describing the overall accord as a historic first in 3,000 years.

Trump anticipated Saudi Arabia joining the expanded Abraham Accords by year's end.

The interview and deal have drawn mixed reactions, with TIME's coverage praising it as a diplomatic breakthrough, though Trump later criticized the magazine for using an unflattering photo on a related cover.

The White House continues efforts to preserve the agreement amid concerns about potential violations by Hamas.