Trump: They are negotiating because they don't want to be hit

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke at the "National Prayer Breakfast" in Washington, which was also attended by religious officials. In his statement, Trump expressed that he also works within the framework of religion as U.S. President and that under his administration, the U.S. has become a more religious country than ever before. Mentioning that a newspaper had reported on his comment in a previous speech that he "would not be able to go to Heaven" after listing his accomplishments, Trump said, "I am not a perfect candidate for Heaven, but I have done incredibly good things for imperfect people. There is no doubt about that."

"Together with Venezuela, we own 68 percent of the world's oil"

Stating that the U.S. military is in a very strong position and that this is clearly seen in operations against Iran and Venezuela, Trump said, "We are getting along extremely well with the new Venezuelan administration. Our relationship has turned into an extremely strong bond. I don't think anything like this has ever happened before. In fact, there are currently 50 million barrels of oil moving by sea toward Houston. They were in very big trouble economically. Yet, I believe they are the country with the most oil after us. As two countries, we own 68 percent of the world's oil."

"Iran is negotiating because it doesn't want to be hit"

Speaking highly of his cabinet members and U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, Trump said, "He is a ruthless person. Ask Venezuela. Ask Iran. Now, they are negotiating because they don't want to be hit. They don't want us to hit them. You know, we have a large fleet heading toward Iran."

"You cannot kill Christians"

Stating that the terrorist organization ISIS found an opportunity to regroup in the period after his first term, Trump said, "Now there is a bit of an ISIS presence again. They were killing Christians in Nigeria, and a while ago we dealt them a very hard blow. You cannot kill Christians. You need to know that when Christians are attacked, President Trump will respond violently and ruthlessly."

"I gave the order for ISIS to be hit on Christmas Day"

Mentioning that they carried out the attack against ISIS in Nigeria in December 2025 in coordination with the Nigerian government, Trump said, "I ordered violent airstrikes to neutralize the ISIS terrorists who massacred thousands of Christians in that country. We dealt them such a hard blow that they still don't understand what happened. We were going to do it on another day, but I said, 'No, do it on Christmas Day.' I instructed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that the ISIS militants in Nigeria should be hit specifically on Christmas Day. Not before, not after."

"You cannot have a great country without religion"

Emphasizing that there is great enthusiasm and spirit in the U.S. and that religion has an effect on this, Trump said, "I have always said it. You cannot have a great country without religion. You have to believe in things. You have to believe that there is a reason for what we do. We all work, we do things, we behave properly. I mean, the reason I behave properly is that I am afraid of doing the opposite. Because I don't want to get into trouble. Look, this is a very positive thing, and people are starting to see it."

Mentioning that the attitude toward religious people and religion has changed under his administration, Trump said, "I am pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Education will issue a new directive protecting the right to worship in public schools."

"I think we are in a very good time to grow the military"

Stating that previously no one wanted to join the military but that this situation has changed under his administration, Trump said, "We couldn't find people. They couldn't recruit anyone, including for our police departments and fire departments. People were not proud of their country. There was no spirit. Now, we have experienced the largest recruitment period in our country's history. It is unprecedented. There are waiting lists for those who want to join the military. In fact, I think we are in a very good time to grow the military."

"There is peace in the Middle East now"

Mentioning that they are working to end many wars around the world, Trump said, "In October, I ended the war in Gaza, I saved thousands of lives. There is peace in the Middle East now."

Regarding the situation in Gaza, the U.S. President said, "Now Hamas needs to lay down its arms. Some say they will not lay down their arms. But they will. If they don't, they will no longer be there."