Trump says things will turn out ‘well’ in Lebanon, people will be ‘happy’

Former US President Donald Trump told a Lebanese TV station that things look promising for Lebanon’s future, despite Israel’s ongoing war on the country.

The comments were made during his campaign tour, where he attended a large Arab community gathering and told Lebanon's MTV that "despite all the challenges Lebanon is facing, things will turn out very well, and the Lebanese people will be happy in the end".

He went on to say that if he was elected president, he would achieve peace in the Middle East.

In exclusive comments to MTV, he spoke about an array of topics, from immigration to the war on Lebanon and Iran’s response to Israeli attacks.

"We have the largest number of terrorists in our country right now than we’ve ever had…all allowed by the worst border security in history and that’s Kamala..," he said, when quizzed about immigration in the USA.  

When asked about how he will engage with and address Arab voters’ concerns regarding US foreign policy, specifically when it comes to Lebanon, Trump said "tremendous progress has been made".

Pressed on who is responsible for the ongoing tensions in Lebanon and the region, the former president was evasive, saying “we have many people who are working on peace and many people that aren’t working on peace. The ones that aren’t are the ones responsible and I think they’re paying a big price".

Trump was also asked about specific solutions he would provide if he was to become US President, following various promises made by him that he would achieve peace in the Middle East.

“We’ll be moving along the process very rapidly and if you look at Israel a lot of people are liking what they see in terms of getting rid of some very bad people. We have to create peace in the Middle East and get rid of obstacles to peace. We have to let the people of Lebanon live a beautiful life” he continued.

Without specifying the steps he would take, Trump repeatedly said he would “move the process along” and that to achieve a ceasefire, two individuals or groups need to sit together and come to agreed terms.

Trump vowed to "work with Lebanese Americans", but did not provide any solutions or decisions regarding Iran, adding that he would take decisions if and when he is president.

In September, Trump said Israel’s war on Lebanon was "unacceptable", stating "we have to have that ended".

However, in recent months there have been signs of warming relations between Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In July, the pair met in Florida, with Trump’s campaign later publishing a statement which said Trump “pledged that when he returns to the White House, he will make every effort to bring peace to the Middle East and combat anti-Semitism from spreading throughout college campuses across the United States."

Trump presided over what was described as the most pro-Israeli administration in US history between 2017 and 2021, moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognising the occupied Golan Heights as part of Israel, and cutting off aid to the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 42,603 Palestinians and wounded over 99,795 others in the same time frame. Israeli attacks on Lebanon have also killed 2,448 people since October 2023.