12:41The Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks during a news conference in Washington, October 1, 2025. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
A quick transcript of "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" broadcasting on Sunday, October 12, 2025, on ABC News is provided below. This version may not represent the completed text, could be revised, and might include slight errors in transcription. For past episodes’ transcripts, explore the "This Week" transcript library.
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NARRATOR: "THIS WEEK WITH GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS" is commencing immediately.
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GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC “THIS WEEK” ANCHOR: A pause in hostilities abroad.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I anticipate it will become a durable truce, ideally, an enduring state of peace.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Political battles domestically.
GOV. JB PRITZKER, (D) ILLINOIS: Trump consistently and constantly utters falsehoods. These inaccuracies must be challenged.
STEPHANOPOULOS: As jubilation echoes among Palestinians and Israelis.
President Trump’s efforts to position troops in American metropolises sparks dissent.
Moreover, amidst the ongoing governmental impasse, the White House mandates extensive layoffs among federal employees.
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R), LOUISIANA: Every Senate Democrat aligned with this course lacks the ethical strength to act justly.
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D), NEW YORK: The Republican Party controls the House, the Senate, and the presidency. They are the ones who chose to halt government operations.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Additionally, the president’s personally chosen prosecutor indicts New York Attorney General Letitia James, dismissing the reservations expressed by preceding prosecutors.
LETITIA JAMES, NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL: This represents merely another phase in the president's determined corruption of our judicial framework.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Live from Israel this morning is Ian Pannell. Pierre Thomas will cover Trump's campaign of reprisal. Vice President J.D. Vance, alongside Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, will participate live.
Furthermore, expert commentary from our prominent discussion panel.
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NARRATOR: From ABC News, present "THIS WEEK." And now, George Stephanopoulos.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Greetings, and a warm welcome to "THIS WEEK."
This week has been defined by striking contradictions. While the president endeavored to establish harmony between warring factions abroad, he simultaneously championed legal action against political adversaries within the nation. He deployed American forces to the Middle East as a peacekeeping force. The actions of deportation units in the Midwest have been likened to those of stormtroopers by detractors. As the president gears up to address the Israeli Knesset, the U.S. House of Representatives operates without compensating its members, even as federal employees provide services sans remuneration. Thousands more have faced dismissal by order of the White House. Concurrently, Trump's Secretary of the Treasury sanctioned a $20 billion rescue package for Argentina, a move that stands to advantage his former corporate cohorts.
We have much to unpack this Sunday morning. We’ll commence with Ian Pannell, our chief foreign correspondent, reporting live from Tel Aviv.
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IAN PANNELL, ABC NEWS CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This week marked the cessation of violence in Gaza after two years of bloodshed, with a ceasefire agreed upon by Israel and Hamas. Over the ensuing 24 hours, the liberation of all remaining captives is anticipated. Tens of thousands of Gazan civilians have begun returning to their devastated residences amidst widespread ruin. Humanitarian organizations stand ready to deliver crucial aid, including provisions, medical resources, and basic necessities to Gaza.
It has been an eventful week. President Trump revealed the peace agreement Wednesday, celebrating it as “a victory for the Arab and Muslim world, for Israel, and for all nations in the region, including the United States of America.”
TRUMP: We have made considerable headway in the Middle East. It was something everyone said could never be accomplished. We have brought an end to the conflict in Gaza, effectively establishing peace on a grander scale.
PANNELL (voice over): On Friday, Israel sanctioned the initial step of the understanding, deciding to initiate a limited disengagement of its military. The accord requires the deliverance of Gaza’s remaining 48 captives, 20 of whom are presumed to still be alive, in addition to the release of both Palestinian inmates, specifically 250 who were formally charged, along with 1,700 detained individuals within Gaza, coupled with the allocation of vital humanitarian support for Gaza’s inhabitants.
Trump entrusted his chief negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to finalize terms in Egypt. The two conveyed remarks in Tel Aviv at Hostages Square the prior evening. As the assembly expressed condemnation for Israel’s Prime Minister, Trump’s function was met with support.
STEVE Witkoff, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST: Your fortitude and resilience have inspired individuals across the globe. It was your deeply held convictions, coupled with the resolute guidance of my esteemed companion and President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, that rendered this tranquility achievable.
PANNELL (voice over): As 200 U.S. soldiers are deployed to Israel for overseeing the armistice, American officials assert that their forces will remain outside Gaza’s borders. President Trump intends to tour Israel and Egypt over the present weekend in observance of the watershed agreement. Following two years of suffering, hostage families eagerly await the return of their kin. Among the 20 individuals presumed living is Eitan Horn, who was taken from kibbutz Nir Oz while he visited his brother on October 7th. His brother was freed in February.
His father, Itzik, conveyed, “I’m elated as the resolution appears imminent. However, uncertainty lingers, not from skepticism but because of the known nature of our counterparts.”
Many questions persist concerning the unfolding of future occurrences, notably if Hamas will be expected to yield its weaponry, including deliberations over the future governance within Gaza subsequent to the war.
However, Trump exuded assurance in advance of future negotiations aimed at anchoring the subsequent phase of the agreement.
TRUMP: Most matters are largely settled. Any remaining items can be sorted out.
PANNELL (voice over): Yousef al-Ojani (ph), a 15-year-old resident of Gaza, expressed relief, offering abundant gratitude to the United States and to President Trump on account of the ceasefire.
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PANNELL (on camera): As of this juncture, George, it’s thought that a minimum of half a million Palestinians have made their way to Gaza City, alongside the northern region of the strip, subsequent to the establishment of the truce, as per information provided by Gaza civil defense officials. Yet, as our on-site producer documented earlier today, a substantial proportion are rerouting their course toward the south, given the extensive destruction incurred, encompassing a lack of residential housing in addition to utilities that include water, nutrition, and digital connectivity.
Meanwhile, time is of the essence with respect to the return of the hostages, anticipated to reunite with their families by midday on Monday.
George.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Thanks, Ian. President Trump is set to arrive in Tel Aviv later today. What can we anticipate tomorrow?
PANNELL: Yes, precisely. According to sources within the prime minister's office, President Trump plans to interact with the families of the captives on Monday. Furthermore, he is expected to deliver a speech before the Knesset, Israel’s parliamentary body. The visit can be regarded as a celebration of achievement. Then, he will journey to Egypt for what’s been described as a peace assembly including over 20 international leaders. The purpose is to highlight the conclusion of the Gaza war, as well as to strengthen efforts toward achieving stability in the Middle East.
Recall that President Trump has always framed the conflict as only partly related to Gaza itself. His bigger ambition lies in expanding the Abraham Accords, ensuring normalization between Israel and other nations, while bolstering business prospects.
George.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Ian Pannell, thank you.
We turn now to President Trump's domestic campaign of reprisal, specifically focusing on the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James that took place this week, addressing accusations previously refuted by preceding prosecutors.
Our leading justice correspondent, Pierre Thomas, delivers the report.
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TRUMP: I am your instrument of justice.
PIERRE THOMAS, ABC NEWS CHIEF JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Retribution emerged as the hallmark of Donald Trump’s 2024 electoral campaign. While defending against four indictments, he assured supporters he’d correct what he believed to be a two-tiered justice framework turned into a tool against him. He stressed too, that law and order was absent across the United States and committed to its restoration.
Approaching nine months into his second tenure in the White House, President Trump has exerted pressure on essential departments, such as DOJ and Homeland Security, to demonstrate heightened aggressiveness, directing ICE to carry out extensive removals of undocumented immigrants and dispatching National Guard contingents into Democratic urban centers, as various court bodies scrutinized whether he’s straining constitutional limitations.
His Justice Department this week ensured the indictment of one of his principal political rivals, New York Attorney General Letitia James, who based her campaign on efforts to challenge Donald Trump, securing a half-billion-dollar resolution through a civil fraud claim directed at the Trump Organization and his family. DOJ announced James faces accusations that include single counts of bank fraud and making false declarations to a banking institution, with each charge potentially carrying prison sentences topping out at 30 years and fines going up to $1 million.
Prosecutors allege that James deceived a financial entity for favorable borrowing terms by claiming that the property in question would serve as a second household, even though prosecutors assert it would be used for rental income.
LETITIA JAMES, NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL: The allegations lack foundation, and the President’s public statements make clear that he seeks only political retribution.
THOMAS (voice over): This constitutes the second instance in a single day when Trump’s Justice Department aimed at one of his political adversaries after procuring an indictment for former FBI Director James Comey around late September. Both attempts occurred after Trump referenced both Tish James and Comey, directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue legal action.
The indictments against James and Comey were pursued by Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s former counsel, now U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, despite her lack of experience as a prosecutor. Halligan assumed the position following the dismissal of her predecessor by Trump, Erik Siebert, who officials claimed demurred from indicting James or Comey, citing deficient substantiation. As Halligan pressed accusations against James, the Justice Department engaged in two additional courtroom challenges, defending Trump’s attempt to situate National Guard units in Chicago and Portland.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON, (D) CHICAGO: Their task here is to occupy our city.
THOMAS (voice over): Trump additionally encouraged the arrest of the Illinois Governor, J.B. Pritzker, as well as Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for failing to protect ICE personnel. He made repeated unsupported assertions about Portland being ablaze.
GOV. TINA KOTEK, (D) OREGON: It is not a theater of war. Crime rates have diminished.
THOMAS (voice over): For now, Trump's efforts have been checked in both locales. A district judge on Thursday executed a temporary restraining decree regarding National Guard troop deployments coming from other states into Illinois, declaring that such deployment will only exacerbate the strife started by the defense in question.
This ruling took place after a federal magistrate whom Trump had appointed issued a parallel blockade towards the Trump deployment in Portland. This magistrate noted that the disturbances occurring within the city were not violent or disruptive enough to necessitate that the federal government take control of the National Guard, with the magistrate judging the president’s assertions about Portland as not aligning with actual circumstances.
Nevertheless, as matters progressed, Trump considered other options regarding circumventing the judicial structure.
REPORTER: The Insurrection Act, under what conditions or terms would you —
TRUMP: Should the need arise, I'm willing to utilize it. It has not been necessary to date, but the law exists for a reason.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
THOMAS (on camera): Regarding the “enemies list” so called, DOJ prosecutors are contemplating charges against several of Trump's political rivals, including his former National Security Adviser John Bolton, California Senator Adam Schiff, and others who are under scrutiny — George.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Pierre Thomas, thank you.
We now have the company of Vice President J.D. Vance.
Thank you for being here this morning, Mr. Vice President.
First, concerning the Middle East, “The Wall Street Journal” is reporting that Hamas affirmed possession of 20 hostages, who are anticipated to be freed over the coming day, perhaps earlier than expected.
Have 20 living hostages actually been verified? When will their liberation happen?
JD VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: George, the hostages have been confirmed. Verification is obviously contingent on seeing these people safely. But, fortunately, we think they will be freed in the coming day, possibly by early tomorrow, U.S. time, which will occur later in the day, of course, in Israel.
That being noted, we have to realize that this represents a singular accomplishment stemming from an administration that pursued unorthodox diplomacy. And that represents a major lesson, in my view.
The President of the United States directed Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff, instructing them to orchestrate an arrangement, consult with Gulf Arab nations, confer with Israel, find areas of accord, and get the job done.
As a result, we are on the verge of witnessing lasting peace in the Middle East, a historic breakthrough. Crucially, these 20 hostages will return to their families. This is a moment of significance for our nation. Americans can take pride in the efforts of our diplomats. Beyond that, this represents progress for the world. And that is why the president will travel there and celebrate with these hostages. It is a great achievement, and I am elated.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Two hundred U.S. military personnel are deploying to Israel to oversee this agreement.
What precise purpose will they serve? Might they be stationed inside Gaza? Furthermore, are there concerns they could be swept into conflict?
VANCE: That account is inaccurately relayed. U.S. military forces already exist at Central Command. They’ve been based in this country for decades.
Those troops will monitor stipulations within the accord. That work entails confirming Israeli military personnel are situated within the boundaries that were decided upon, making sure Hamas isn’t aggressing against innocent Israelis, doing every possible thing to ensure that the established peace endures.
Placing ground troops in Gaza and in Israel does not represent our plan. In fact, inaccuracies mark the telling of the story. But our intention is to oversee this peace so that it will last.
An additional welcome piece of information that has not gotten as much attention is the fact that Indonesia and other predominantly Muslim nations have offered to send ground troops to Gaza, ensuring peacekeeping protocols are being observed. It is not expected that this role should be fulfilled by American personnel. Rather, the Muslim world will respond. And again, this results from the Trump administration’s diplomatic accomplishments.
STEPHANOPOULOS: The president has additionally sought to deploy National Guard units within a number of American municipalities. Several federal judges, including those appointed by Trump, alongside the Republican Governor of Oklahoma and National Governors Association chairman, Kevin Stitt, have expressed concern with this directive.
Governor Stitt indicated, “We uphold the principle of federalism that supports state rights. Residents of Oklahoma will express outrage if Governor Pritzker of Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma under the Biden administration.”
What is your response to Governor Stitt?
VANCE: I would say that Governor Stitt should recognize the state of affairs in Chicago. There is a reason that the Illinois case is different from the one in Chicago; that reason being the acceptance of lawlessness and gang activity in the city. Chicago is a case apart from most. Consider the murder rates in Chicago, the rate of violent crime. We have mothers with young families that are terrorized that their children are going to be caught in the middle of gunfire.
The United States should no longer accept this in some of its biggest cities. The situation in Chicago is, unfortunately, the worst of all.
It is a beautiful city that is full of impressive people. The vast majority of violent crime in Chicago stems from a very small fraction of the population. Why shouldn’t federal troops empower the people who live in Chicago to live safe lives when the Governor and Mayor simply refuse to take action?
STEPHANOPOULOS: As you know, a federal judge has blocked the attempt to deploy troops in Chicago, and Judge Perry claimed that several claims in the legal filings lacked credibility.
VANCE: We will obviously exhaust every possible legal avenue. The basis exists for us to provide adequate safety to the people all over the United States, particularly in Chicago.
For a judge, or for anyone else, to look at the situation and conclude it is tolerable just isn’t accurate. The President sees the violence and the deaths by homicide in Chicago every weekend. This is completely intolerable.
Furthermore, law enforcement at all levels is trying to keep everyone safe.
We’ve noticed ICE agents are getting assaulted in the Chicago suburbs, along with various places throughout the state of Illinois and also beyond. We are seeing an increase of a thousand percent in violence against our ICE agents, who are being assaulted, being beaten, and being shot at.
I think that all Americans, whether they are Democrats or Republicans, can agree on the point that this situation isn’t acceptable. We want all people to be safe, and want our law enforcement officials to be equipped so that they can keep us safe. This is possible. And that is the commitment of the Trump administration.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Governor Pritzker will be our next guest. President Trump claimed he ought to be in jail. Do you share the belief that Governor Pritzker has committed a crime?
VANCE: Governor Pritzker has neglected to keep the people of Illinois safe. Governor Pritzker will address how bad Donald Trump is, how bad I am, and how bad the administration is, while serving as the Governor of a state with a murder rate that rivals the most violent places in the third world. He should be mad at criminals instead of Trump for seeking to keep Chicagoans safe. We’re trying to help, and we’re trying to help the residents of his biggest city. I wish that he would allow us, since he isn’t doing the job himself.
STEPHANOPOULOS: I asked if you concurred with President Trump that Governor Pritzker had committed a crime.
VANCE: Governor Pritzker has allowed a lot of people to die in Chicago, and elsewhere. I view the situation as disgraceful. He absolutely should suffer some consequences for the thousands of innocent Chicagoans who have died because he has failed at his job.
STEPHANOPOULOS: To be clear, is your answer “yes” or “no”? Do you believe Governor Pritzker has committed a crime?
VANCE: I will continue to say that Governor Pritzker has failed at his job. As a consequence, he should experience some consequences. Whether he has violated the law, I would leave that to the courts. I absolutely think that he violated his fundamental oath of office, which to me seems criminal. Whether he actually violated the law, I will leave that to a judge.
STEPHANOPOULOS: As you saw, Letitia James was indicted on accusations of mortgage fraud, and similar accusations against Lisa Cook have been made by the Trump administration.
A journalism outlet, “ProPublica” has published that several Trump administration members have faced similar questions. “Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer entered into two primary-residence mortgages in quick succession. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has primary-residence mortgages in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. Lee Zeldin, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, has one primary-residence mortgage in Long Island and another in Washington, D.C.”
What is your response to critics who are claiming that the Trump administration is acting hypocritically?
VANCE: There are two factors to address. For one, “ProPublica” is a left-wing blog. I’m not shocked that a left-wing blog is attacking the Trump administration.
More importantly, what does the law say? Letitia James, who lives in a left-leaning part of the country that voted heavily against Donald Trump, was indicted for mortgage fraud. After familiarizing myself with the relevant facts, I see that she has, in fact, committed mortgage fraud.
She has been accused, but will ultimately be judged by a jury. That process is not controlled by the administration. The justice system will allow a judge to manage the case, and a jury to determine guilt. That’s what will decide if she goes to prison. We ask that the facts be allowed to drive this case.
That principle has been put into practice by the Justice Department. The question of law is always asked. If an individual is found to have violated the law, prosecution is always the next step. That’s what the Justice Department ought to do. It failed at doing so under Joe Biden, but it functions accordingly under Donald Trump.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you disagree with “ProPublica” regarding the reported facts?
VANCE: Would I disagree with a far-left blog that I haven’t read, that was brought up during this interview? I have no idea what they actually said. I question their credibility. The more critical question is what does the law say? If the law is violated, the local prosecutor, local grand jury, and finally a jury will convict someone. That’s how the justice system is designed to work.
STEPHANOPOULOS: In September 2024, the White House border czar, Tom Homan, was recorded accepting $50,000 in cash on an FBI surveillance tape. Did he keep that money, or did he give it back?
VANCE: Tom Homan did not take a bribe. That claim is a smear. Your organization is only pursuing Homan so aggressively because he is enforcing the law. He is a good man that is being attacked and threatened with death by others because he has the audacity to enforce the immigration laws of the country.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
