Donald Trump blasted for saying he asked Israeli hostages if Hamas showed 'any sign of love'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump raised eyebrows on Monday, April 7, when he told reporters in the White House that he asked Israeli hostages if Hamas showed "any sign of love" to them.

The 78-year-old made these remarks during his Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as per the Irish Star.

Donald Trump says he asked Israeli hostages if Hamas showed 'any sign of love'

During the meeting, Donald Trump answered several questions about plans for a ceasefire in Gaza, per the outlet. He also touched upon his proposed plan for the US to take control of the Gaza Strip. 

He told the reporters, "I said to (the former hostages), was there any sign of love? You were there. 10 people, it's only 10, but it's pretty representative."

The president continued, "Did Hamas show any signs of, like, help or liking you? Did they give you a piece of bread extra? Did they give you a meal on the side? Like what happened in Germany. Like what happened elsewhere. People try and help people that were in unbelievable distress. They said, 'No.'" 

"I said, 'Did they ever wink at you like, you’re gonna be ok?' They said, 'No, they’d slap us.' The hatred is unbelievable," he added while talking about his interactions with the released hostages. 

Trump previously compared the freed hostages to Holocaust survivors in February, citing their emaciated state and brutal treatment, as per the outlet. 

He told reporters that the hostages looked like they "haven’t had a meal in a month."

"People that were healthy people a reasonably short number of years ago, and you look at them today, they look like they’ve aged 25 years, they literally look like the old pictures of Holocaust survivors, the same thing. No reason for that," the MAGA leader stated. 

French and Middle Eastern leaders spoke to Trump on Monday regarding ways to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, and also stressed the need to resume access to humanitarian aid, as per the French President Emmanuel Macron's office.

The three leaders, Macron, Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, and King Abdullah II of Jordan, will stay in touch with Trump, the French president's office stated.

The phone call happened before Trump met with Netanyahu at the White House.

Israeli hostages released by Hamas

A total of 25 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, following the October 7, 2023, attacks, were released alive as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel, which started on January 19, 2025, according to the BBC.

In February, Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, and Omer Wenkert were released in Nuseirat, central Gaza, whereas Avera Mengistu and Tal Shoham were freed in Rafah, southern Gaza, per the outlet.

The last hostage, Hisham al-Sayed, was handed over to the Red Cross in a private exchange in Gaza City.

In March, Hamas said it's willing to release the one living Israeli-American hostage and the bodies of four other dual-national Americans it's been holding, according to NPR.

Hamas put out a statement on its official Telegram channel and stated that it is willing to release "Edan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, in addition to the bodies of four other dual nationals."

Internet slams Donald Trump over his remarks about freed hostages

Netizens rebuked Donald Trump as he said he asked Israeli hostages if Hamas showed "any sign of love" to them while talking to reporters in the White House on Monday.

One wrote, "Is he saying Nazis on Germany showed concentration camp inmates signs of love?" while another added, "Please make him stop."

A person remarked, "I think he should ask Palestinians about how they’re being treated, but we all know that won’t happen," whereas someone else commented, "How is this guy our president!" 

"What in the absolutely hell is he talking about?" an individual asked. 

"Yes, so much kindness was shown to the Jews in Nazi Germany. And he’s sitting right next to Netanyahu. WTF?" another comment read. 

One more wrote, "He’s trying so hard to act like a normal person and show he can be empathetic and compassionate, but he knows as much about them as he does about groceries." 

"Every day I think he can’t get any more repulsive but he proves me wrong," another person stated. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.