President Donald Trump convened his 13th Cabinet meeting of his second term at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland on Friday, using the setting to highlight the administration’s accomplishments and address pressing political and security issues ahead of the November midterm elections.
The remote meeting took place three months before the elections, which could alter the balance of power in Congress. Trump focused much of his remarks on a recent surge of migrants crossing from Morocco into Spain’s Ceuta territory, characterizing it as an invasion and warning that the United States could face a similar crisis if Republicans lose control. He cited the movement of approximately 60,000 migrants into Ceuta over a 24-hour period, referencing that about half had returned voluntarily according to Spanish authorities.
Trump’s commentary reminiscent of his 2018 midterm rhetoric, when he warned about migrant caravans approaching the U.S. southern border. “That same thing is going to happen to us if the Republicans don’t get elected. Except worse, much bigger,” he said.
The president also addressed a series of cyberattacks targeting 30 water systems in Minnesota, shifting blame toward what he described as the state’s “grossly incompetent” Democratic leadership. Although no group has been publicly attributed to the attacks, federal agencies including the FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have warned that Iranian hackers have targeted critical infrastructure sectors, such as water systems. Trump rejected this explanation, stating, “They blame it on Iran. I don’t think so.”
This meeting marked the first time a Cabinet gathering was televised from Camp David, a retreat established in 1942 primarily for presidential rest and respite. Trump noted the uniqueness of the venue, calling the room “very, very special.” Among Cabinet members who spoke were Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The public portion of the meeting lasted approximately one hour and included a question-and-answer session with reporters.
During the session, Trump addressed recent developments concerning the conflict involving Iran and an announced deal aimed at disarming Hamas, the Palestinian militant group. He acknowledged the arrangement could have “ups and downs” but described it as a “great breakthrough” facilitated by U.S. and Israeli efforts against Iran, a key backer of Hamas. The agreement also reportedly includes Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
Trump also discussed a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund intended to compensate his political allies, which he said was effectively “dead.” The fund’s status has impeded the confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general; Trump defended those who would benefit from the fund, referencing the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot participants. He described their families as having been “ruined” and called Blanche a “pawn in this whole thing.” Blanche attended the meeting but did not participate in the public discussion.
The meeting underscored Trump’s ongoing efforts to rally support ahead of the midterms by emphasizing immigration concerns, national security, and his foreign policy initiatives, all while reaffirming his administration’s key priorities from the historic presidential retreat.