Fred Fleitz
Appearances
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
officials because of the risk that the U.S. may use as an opportunity to find out who these people are, where they live and maybe capture them and take them to Guantanamo, which, you know, many of our colleagues would like to do because they're terrorists living in luxury in Qatar. And I know people are saying we should negotiate with terrorists. Human lives are at stake here.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
I have no problem with this. We have to get these hostages out while they're alive because they won't be alive for much longer.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Well, as you know, President Trump put out an audacious plan where the U.S. would take ownership of Gaza and rebuild it and move the population out to other areas. And he thinks that this would make Gaza into one of the leading tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. Well, predictably, just about every Arab nation threw a fit over this, said they're not going to cooperate.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
The Palestinians in Gaza said they won't leave. There's been charges of ethnic cleansing and all kinds of other nonsense, and no nation wants to take them. But this proposal did succeed in forcing other nations to consider putting forward their own proposals. The Egyptians have a pretty strong proposal.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
that they're putting forward right now that has the support of most Arab nations who would fund it. It would rebuild Gaza without ruining the population. I think Trump's proposal is ambitious, but unless we can find nations to take the people of Gaza, I'm not sure it will work. But that doesn't matter.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
You know, the Washington Journal editorial report, it hates Trump with a passion and it wrote an editorial ridiculing his Gaza plan. But it also said that as much as it dislikes the plan, Trump forced states in the region to confront their hypocrisies about Gaza. They say they care about the people of Gaza, but they don't want to lift a finger to help them.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
And Trump really has made them realize that and to take action before he does.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
I agree with you and Egypt and Jordan do not want Trump to be putting maximum pressure on them because they won't take these refugees. So guess what happened? Egypt came up with a plan. to take the refugees. I'm sorry, not to take them, to take care of them, to keep them there, to rebuild. And I don't know who or what is going to govern Gaza. I've heard discussions of Palestinian technocrats.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Whoever runs Gaza, it can't be Hamas. It can't be the Palestinian Authority. Israel won't permit that. I don't think the The Trump administration will either. But there's a discussion right now. What will we do with Gaza if and when the war is over? And there really wasn't a serious discussion about that until Trump put forward his proposal.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
A big obstacle here is the two-state solution. which was agreed to decades ago. That's off the table for Israel should be for the US, too. I think it's off the table for the Trump administration. And I've talked to Israeli officials about this after the October 7 massacre by Hamas.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
In the view of Israeli officials, the Palestinians cannot be trusted with their own state until they are de radicalized. That means mosques, schools, media. When you have a society It trains their population from the time they are toddlers to murder Jews and destroy the state of Israel. That society cannot be trusted with their own state.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
And Israel knows what will happen if there is a separate state in Gaza. Hamas will run it. It will use it as a base of operations to launch an even more deadly attack against Israel. Israel will never let this happen.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
I think that's a good question. I would say no. But it's also worth noting that one reason why the Middle East is so unstable now is because of Joe Biden's incredible weakness and his decision to try to appease Iran. Iran is about $100 billion richer today. that it would have been if Trump had won the 2020 election, because Biden didn't enforce sanctions on Iran, especially oil sanctions.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
And I might add, it sold most of that oil to China. This gave Iran money to spend on its nuclear program, its missile program, its bullet, and Hamas. This Hamas attack was funded by Iran, and I think it was directed by Iran. So I'm glad Trump has re-implemented aggressive sanctions against Iran that I think will be much more painful than what he put on Iran in the first administration.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
I had a good time. There were good times and bad times, mostly good. I was an analyst. You were an operator. I wrote quite a few PDPs, which is why I wanted to be on this show. I know a lot about the PDP. I want to see it improved. It's politicized, watered down. It might be a good topic for another show.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Well, we know that for years, President Trump has been saying that the priority for the United States should be to stop the killing. He believes that the previous policy of Joe Biden and the Europeans to just plow weapons into Ukraine for as long as it takes was not a sensible policy because there was no strategy for either Ukraine to win the war or to push Russia out.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Ukraine was going to run out of troops. This had become a long-term war of attrition. Ukraine was going to lose. It was immoral to keep stringing this out. But Biden didn't want to talk about it anymore. He didn't want to talk about peace talks. He just wanted to attack anyone who suggested trying to end the war as being pro-Putin or anti-Ukraine. That's just not true.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
So we've seen over the last couple of weeks Trump and his officials really twisting Zelensky's arm to get behind the approach of ending the war, getting a ceasefire. And we'll negotiate other issues later, like territory, security assistance, NATO membership, etc. And it was hard because I understand that Zelensky doesn't want to concede anything to Russia. Russia was the aggressor.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
This is a vicious, unprovoked attack. And in a perfect world, we push Russia out and put Putin on trial for war crimes. But we don't live in a perfect world. That isn't possible. We need to do what is possible. That's to get a ceasefire, if we can, to stop the killing and negotiate the best deal possible so Ukraine can recover, rebuild, and become a robust democracy and strong economy.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Russia's making some progress, but it will take quite a while for Russia to conquer Ukraine. If it ever does, it will be a very, very painful and expensive victory. Putin might be lured to agree to end the fighting with an understanding that Ukraine will be neutral. It will not be a member of NATO. And that's not even our call. That has to be voted on by NATO members with a unanimous vote.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
That's not going to happen. And that we will work to bring Russia back into the community of nations in good standing. Bring Russia into Europe. Lower sanctions on Russia with an understanding that some of Russia's revenues have to go to rebuild Ukraine. I think Trump is the only leader on the scene right now, maybe ever, who could maybe be able to deal with to get a fairly reasonable deal.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
If that doesn't happen, we don't know who's going to succeed Trump. I think that sanctions on Russia will get even worse. We will give even more powerful weapons to Ukraine. This is a chance for Russia to get out of it. And I don't agree with Putin's security concerns about Ukraine, but I think we can meet him halfway.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
We're not going to agree to native membership, but we're also still going to arm Ukraine to the teeth.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Well, I think that probably there'll be a new order drawn along the current battle lines. Ukraine's not going to concede any territory, but it will be it will be decided in long term negotiations. But this is going to take sophisticated diplomacy by Trump's top national security officials and by Trump to say to Putin, this is a better road for you and the Russian people.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Of course, Putin could keep fighting and keep wrecking his economy and isolating his country. or you may see an opportunity with Trump to get out of this war and to set Ukraine up in a situation where he retains its freedom. Putin can live with it on his borders. That that means You know, we're not going to agree to Ukraine being disarmed, but Ukraine will agree to be neutral.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Ukraine won't be put in NATO, at least for the next 10 to 25 years. We won't raise that issue. I mean, how do you twist Putin's arm? He has seen... Fairly invulnerable to sanctions. He'll subject his people to extreme levels of pain to maintain his policy. It's going to take personal diplomacy. And look, it's going to be tough. I don't know that we'll win this, but I think it's worth trying.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
They've done significant damage to the Russian economy, but Russia is still able to sell its energy. And the problem with our strategy with Russia is that we've pushed Russia into the arms of China. And China is buying Russian energy and goods and probably providing funds to sustain the Russian economy. This is a huge threat to global security long term.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
We need to break that growing nexus between Moscow and Beijing, which also includes Iran and North Korea, I might add. And that's another reason why ending this war is so essential. And I don't think we should give anything to Putin other than what I just said. And I don't like the idea. that Putin wouldn't be forced to give back all the territory he's taken.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
But I think we should still keep it on the table that someday we're going to ask Russia to return the territory, maybe after Putin leaves office.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
I think it's a concern. That's why Ukraine has to be fully armed to and ready to prevent any Russian invasion. And we have to have peacekeepers along the border to monitor a ceasefire.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
And I mean, there's a concern that there might be an agreement that the Trump administration, a future president wouldn't support it or or maybe Putin would defer to Trump, but would invade after Trump leaves office. Steps will have to be taken to submit this deal.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
And I think that means bringing Russia into the community of nations and finding ways to somehow address the issues that Ukraine has with Russia. It's going to be a hard slog.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Well, there's several things going on right now. The Trump administration has called for sending European and non-European peacekeepers to Ukraine. Europe is talking about sending something different. They want to send a deterrence force that would use military force to enforce a ceasefire and other peace agreement.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Putin is never going to agree to NATO ground troops in Ukraine that could attack Russia. That's not going to happen. Europe has to stop talking about that. But I think we can get Putin to agree to peacekeepers. Now, look, in classic peacekeeping, each of the parties get to decide what nations contribute to peacekeeping.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
I don't think Putin's going to agree to British troops on his border, but he may agree to Irish troops. He may agree to Egyptian troops, troops from Nepal. There are many nations with experience in peacekeeping who I think would be acceptable to Ukraine and Russia. And look, this has to be negotiated.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
I think the minerals deal is significant because it's something Trump wanted. And he thinks it will be in court for the U.S. economy. It represents the U.S. being paid back for our military assistance. And it was a sign of good faith by Zelensky to give this to him. I know people have said that this is some kind of a security assistance or it will shield Ukraine from invading.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
I'm not really putting it that way because I think this will take a long time to implement. And in the short term, it's not going to make any difference. What it does be is that Zelensky is saying to Trump, I'm prepared to play ball with you.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Some of them are in Russian territory, but they're spread throughout Ukraine. And if they're actually there, there's more than enough rare earth minerals and energy to extract from the territory that Ukraine currently holds.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Well, you know, we've seen some encouraging news in Gaza, but we're far from settling this war between Hamas and Israel. I think because of Trump's election and leadership, this is why we... the number of hostages were released by Hamas. And I might add that Hamas made critical concessions just after Trump won the election concessions it would not make to the Biden administration.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
And I think that's because of Trump's leadership and frankly, respect they have for Trump. I forget how many hostages have gotten out. We're now looking at the second phase, which would mean the rest of the hostage would be released. But that also would require Israel pulling out of Gaza, which it's not prepared to do. Israel is trying to extend second phase of the peace agreement.
The President's Daily Brief
PDB Situation Report | March 15th, 2025: Trump Calls Putin’s Bluff & Syria Erupts in Violence
Hamas is resisting. Trump said there's going to be severe consequences if Hamas doesn't agree. U.S. negotiators have spoken directly to Hamas, which is really unprecedented, to try to find an agreement to get the hostages out to stop the conflict. It's important to Trump to end this conflict, but not on terms that endangers Israel's security.