US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a key role in the ceasefire deal in January that enabled 33 hostages to be freed, spoke with the host of The Tucker Carlson Show recently. The interview raised eyebrows, especially given Witkoff’s comments about Qatar, the country that hosts Hamas and has played a role as mediator.
The interview with Carlson comes at a unique time. The talk show host has also recently interviewed Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, as well as guests who have been critical of Israel. On the other hand, Witkoff has been playing a key role in other Trump administration initiatives, such as outreach to Russia.
The interview comes a week after Reuters reported that “the Trump administration has withdrawn the nomination of Adam Boehler to serve as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs.” Boehler held direct talks with Hamas and did a round of interviews on Israeli media. He was critiqued for his comments that appeared to be soft on Hamas.
The interview also came out as CNN reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has “run the risk of being overshadowed” by Witkoff’s role. Both Rubio and Witkoff have pushed back on this report.
Nevertheless, the interview clearly comes at a unique time in American policy, as US President Donald Trump seeks a doctrine in world affairs. The administration launched airstrikes on the Houthis and reportedly sent a letter to Iran. Many things are up in the air.
Hamas did not accept a deal pushed by Witkoff that could have extended the ceasefire, the first phase of which ended on March 1. Israel began airstrikes on Hamas on March 18, and the war is now back on.
Many eyes are focused on the Middle East envoy, and his comments to Carlson were significant.
The future of the Middle East
Witkoff said that Qatar wants regional stability and a peace treaty with America. Doha is already a major non-NATO ally of the US, and he said it has moderated its positions. He also said that the head of US Central Command has described Qataris as “special.”
Hamas wants to rule Gaza, Witkoff noted, which he said is unacceptable to the US. “We can’t have a terrorist organization running Gaza.” He went on to say, “We trust the Qataris,” and said the Qataris have explained to Hamas “where they have to get to, to make a deal.”
Witkoff is passionate about the hostages and about condemning October 7. He said, having watched the Hamas attacks, that it’s hard to be dispassionate in the talks. “We can’t ignore the reality of October 7.”
He said that part of the deal-making involves figuring out what Hamas wants. The envoy said he doesn’t think Hamas is ideologically intractable and believes that a deal is possible. “I had to feel it for myself,” he said, explaining how a negotiator has to operate in the region.
Witkoff has spoken to the released hostages and deeply empathizes with them. He also discussed how Trump is “up close and personal” in caring for the hostages and is very involved.
The envoy wants to finish things with dialogue. Currently, there is a conflict in Gaza, and it remains to be seen if he can bridge the gaps. He says this is the same method for talks with Iran and Russia and also for talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Witkoff discussed being critiqued for being too close to Qatar. He described the country as a mediator and said he must collaborate with Doha to be effective. The envoy also described how he wanted to be like Trump when he was a young lawyer. Now, he has a chance as the president’s envoy to make an impact on the world.
He talked about how he wanted to see Gaza and see things on the ground for himself and also discussed how Israel has enabled talks by eliminating Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah and weakening the “Iranian crescent.”
Witkoff also discussed the recent Trump letter sent to Tehran and said the US can never allow the Islamic Republic to have a nuclear weapon and outsized influence in the Gulf.
The envoy mentioned how Hezbollah and Hamas are weakened, adding that the recent US campaign against the Houthis will clip that group’s wings.
Witkoff also mentioned the possibility of Lebanon normalizing ties with Israel.
The new Syrian government of Ahmed al-Sharaa was also discussed. The special envoy mentioned the possibility of normalization between Syria and Saudi Arabia, leading to a “GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] that all works together.”
In Gaza, what matters is demilitarization, Witkoff said. He described Hamas as an “idea” and noted that removing its arms is important.
“How do you build a framework?” Carlson asked. “We will need stability in Gaza,” Witkoff replied.
The envoy also mentioned the need for a better life for people in the enclave, saying Gazans currently lack opportunities. He added that the US will attempt to ascertain development plans for Gaza, providing “prospects” for the people there.
Discussing the ceasefire and other US initiatives, Witkoff praised Trump’s team. He said the president listens to his team and is flexible. “We go out with that way of thinking, for the most part.” The envoy said he is optimistic about an end to the fighting in Gaza.
Witkoff said Israel likely had to go back into the enclave. He described Hamas as being unreasonable in refusing a bridge to a peace deal at the end of the first phase of talks, calling the Hamas reaction “inappropriate.” Clearly, the terror group was obstructing things from March 1 to March 18. He said there needs to be a real security force in Gaza that is not Hamas.
The Middle East envoy discussed the importance of stability in the region, noting the problems in Egypt, such as the country’s problematic economy and rate of unemployment. He also mentioned the challenges in Saudi Arabia and how the region may look at the changes in Syria. He added that there could be several countries joining the Abraham Accords.
Carlson also asked about the conflict in Ukraine, noting that Trump tapped Witkoff to talk with Moscow after his success in negotiating the Gaza ceasefire in January.
Witkoff replied that Russian President Vladimir Putin respects Trump. He described the goal in Ukraine as a thirty-day ceasefire with Russia, noting that the frontline there is complex because approximately 70 different points of conflict and battle are happening along the long front.
He said there is flexibility from Kyiv as well. “I am very optimistic that we will be able to bring the two sides together.” Witkoff is also optimistic about other conflicts. He spoke about Iran, Turkey, and other countries responding to America’s “strong leadership.”
Regarding Iran, Witkoff said a diplomatic solution is achievable. He noted that Tehran’s air defenses have been weakened by Israel’s strikes last year, so Trump is reaching out to the Islamic Republic from a standpoint of strength. Trump’s administration is now trying to build trust with Tehran, though the situation is very complex due to Iran’s nuclear program, he said.
At the end of the interview, the envoy discussed how he moved into his current role. “I wanted to do something that felt worthy to me,” Witkoff said, wanting to save lives and do something positive. Witkoff said he consulted with Jared Kushner about his work during the first Trump administration and referred to his current opportunity as having been “blessed.”