Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) stated this week that there is a strong possibility the remaining Israeli and American hostages held by Iranian-backed Hamas will be released before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. Cruz made the prediction during an interview with Sean Hannity, attributing it to the fear Trump’s decisive leadership instills in America’s adversaries.
Cruz’s Prediction
“I think there is a very real possibility that we will see the hostages in Gaza released on or before January 20th,” Cruz said. He drew a parallel to the 1981 hostage crisis, when Iran released American captives on the day President Ronald Reagan was sworn in. “Donald Trump scares the living daylights out of them,” Cruz added, referencing Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
Cruz emphasized that Trump’s warning of “hell to pay” if the hostages are not freed is a critical factor. “The message he gave—that all hell will break loose—is incredibly important. It’s a message Joe Biden and the Democrats are incapable of delivering because they don’t believe it, and they wouldn’t follow through on it.”
Trump’s Warning
Speaking at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, Trump made clear the consequences of continued captivity for the hostages. “If those hostages aren’t back … if they’re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East,” he warned. “And it will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone.”
Trump also alluded to Iran’s involvement in the October 7 attacks and its ongoing support for Hamas, signaling his intent to hold Tehran accountable. “They should have given them back a long time ago; they should have never taken them. There should have never been the attack of October 7th,” Trump said, referring to the deadly assault that led to the hostages’ capture.
Broader Implications
Cruz, fresh off a re-election victory for his third term in the Senate, framed Trump’s return to the presidency as a moment that would bring immediate changes, including stronger border security, increased American energy production, reduced inflation, and a harder stance against America’s enemies.
Cruz’s prediction underscores the expectation that Trump’s foreign policy approach will pivot sharply from the outgoing Biden administration. Trump’s rhetoric signals a willingness to escalate U.S. pressure on Iran and its proxies in the region, potentially reshaping the geopolitical landscape.
As the clock ticks toward January 20, the possibility of a Reagan-era repeat looms large, with Trump’s ultimatum leaving little room for ambiguity. “All hell will break out,” he warned. And with that, the world watches Hamas and its backers closely.