4 Key Takeaways From Trump’s Cabinet Meeting

President Donald Trump celebrated the historic peace agreement he brokered between Israel and Hamas at the seventh Cabinet meeting of his second term on Thursday.

But Vice President JD Vance said that even as the world celebrates the successful deal, America is suffering because of the Democrats’ federal government shutdown.

“There are Americans that are going to suffer because Chuck Schumer refuses to do his job,” Vance said of the Senate Democrat leader from New York. “So, while we’re all celebrating this incredible success that we’ve had on the world stage, the country could be doing so much better if Chuck Schumer did his job and opened the government.”

1. On Israel-Hamas Deal

The president touted the Israel-Hamas deal, which he initially announced Wednesday night.

Trump said he expects hostages still held by Hamas to be released Monday or Tuesday. He said he was “going to try to make a trip” to Egypt to attend an official peace deal signing.

He believes wealthy Arab countries will be “stepping up” to fund the rebuilding of Gaza after the war.

“What [those countries] make will do wonders for Gaza,” he said. “There’s tremendous spirit like I haven’t seen.”

“One day, perhaps, the entire story will be told about the events of yesterday, but suffice it to say, it’s not an exaggeration that none of it would’ve been possible without the president of the United States being involved,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said of the deal.

Vance credited Trump for having “chartered a different course with a different team” to reach the ceasefire.

“He vested a lot of authority in Steve Witkoff in particular, and that’s why we’re here,” Vance said of the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East. “It’s because you did something different, and I think it’s important to recognize that.”

While the Middle East appears to be entering a new era of prosperity, Trump highlighted the various American programs that are suffering due to the Democrats’ refusing to vote to pass a clean budgetary continuing resolution to fund and reopen the federal government.

2. On Shutdown

Trump said congressional Democrats rejected a clean continuing resolution because they don’t want to have a good economy. He said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both D-N.Y., are holding the country “hostage.”

“I think Schumer’s going to retire because he can’t beat anybody, his polls are so bad,” Trump said.

The president said that if the shutdown continues, “we’re only going to cut Democrat programs” to “give them a little taste of their own medicine.”

Trump slammed Schumer’s statement that Democrats are gaining ground during each day of the shutdown. He said it’s actually getting “worse for them” and that Democrats are divided.

“Chuck Schumer proclaimed this morning that ‘every day gets better’ for them,” Trump said. “This is a confession that he’s acting not to serve the people, but to serve the partisan interests of his party.”

Vance said he agreed that Schumer is not winning the shutdown.

“It’s not good for him politically as much as he might think that it is,” he said. “It’s causing real consequences for the American people.”

“A few moderate Democrats, to their credit, have voted with us to open the government,” Vance continued. “We just need five more Democrats to come to their senses and let the people’s government serve the American people. I hope that they’ll do that.

3. Record Recruitment

Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth shared that military recruitment is hitting big numbers.

“We saw record recruitment in 2025, Mr. President,” Hegseth said. “he first two weeks of [fiscal year] 2026 already … blows that out of the water.”

“In fact, reenlistment has already made its year long goal in the Marine Corps in 2026,” he added.

4. Celebration of Columbus

Before the Cabinet meeting officially began, Trump took time to praise Christopher Columbus and proclaim Oct. 13 as Columbus Day.

“Today our Nation honors the legendary Christopher Columbus—the original American hero, a giant of Western civilization, and one of the most gallant and visionary men to ever walk the face of the earth,” states the proclamation. “This Columbus Day, we honor his life with reverence and gratitude, and we pledge to reclaim his extraordinary legacy of faith, courage, perseverance, and virtue from the left-wing arsonists who have sought to destroy his name and dishonor his memory.”

“Outrageously, in recent years, Christopher Columbus has been a prime target of a vicious and merciless campaign to erase our history, slander our heroes, and attack our heritage,” continues the proclamation. “Before our very eyes, left-wing radicals toppled his statues, vandalized his monuments, tarnished his character, and sought to exile him from our public spaces.”

“Under my leadership, those days are finally over—and our Nation will now abide by a simple truth:  Christopher Columbus was a true American hero, and every citizen is eternally indebted to his relentless determination.”

Signing the proclamation, Trump said, “In other words, we’re calling it Columbus Day.”

“We’re back, Italians,” Trump added, showing his signature on the proclamation.

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