At event Q&A, President Trump discusses Iran pause, Ebola response and a new DOJ fund
May 18, 2026 | Department of State, Executive, Federal
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During a question-and-answer session after the TrumpRx demonstration, President Donald J. Trump addressed several unrelated national security and public-health questions raised by reporters.
On Iran, Trump said other countries — including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — asked the U.S. to delay planned action to give diplomacy a short window. "I've put it off for a little while. Hopefully, maybe forever, but possibly for a little while," he said, and added that the administration had informed Israel and other regional partners.
When reporters sought detail about a newly announced Justice Department fund of $1.7 billion, Trump said he had not been involved in its design and described the program as reimbursing people who had been "horribly treated," adding that a small committee would review claims and determine compensation.
Reporters also asked whether Americans should be worried about Ebola. Heidi Overton, identified in the transcript as speaking for the interagency effort, said the CDC had held a briefing, an interagency response was active and that one symptomatic American tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain. Overton said the individual and six high‑risk contacts were being transferred to Germany for treatment and that the administration had issued travel advisories and instituted entry restrictions for non‑U.S. citizens who had been in the affected region within 21 days.
On election integrity, a reporter raised errors in a Maryland primary mail‑in ballot mailing. Trump called mail‑in balloting "by just the nature of it, it's going to be corrupt" and alleged that 500,000 faulty ballots had been sent in Maryland; he said law enforcement had been asked to review the situation.
The president also took questions about whether those who committed violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 should be eligible for compensation under the DOJ fund. He said eligibility would be determined by the committee and reiterated that families who had suffered legal and financial harm deserved review.
The event ended with applause and the president thanking participants.
On Iran, Trump said other countries — including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — asked the U.S. to delay planned action to give diplomacy a short window. "I've put it off for a little while. Hopefully, maybe forever, but possibly for a little while," he said, and added that the administration had informed Israel and other regional partners.
When reporters sought detail about a newly announced Justice Department fund of $1.7 billion, Trump said he had not been involved in its design and described the program as reimbursing people who had been "horribly treated," adding that a small committee would review claims and determine compensation.
Reporters also asked whether Americans should be worried about Ebola. Heidi Overton, identified in the transcript as speaking for the interagency effort, said the CDC had held a briefing, an interagency response was active and that one symptomatic American tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain. Overton said the individual and six high‑risk contacts were being transferred to Germany for treatment and that the administration had issued travel advisories and instituted entry restrictions for non‑U.S. citizens who had been in the affected region within 21 days.
On election integrity, a reporter raised errors in a Maryland primary mail‑in ballot mailing. Trump called mail‑in balloting "by just the nature of it, it's going to be corrupt" and alleged that 500,000 faulty ballots had been sent in Maryland; he said law enforcement had been asked to review the situation.
The president also took questions about whether those who committed violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 should be eligible for compensation under the DOJ fund. He said eligibility would be determined by the committee and reiterated that families who had suffered legal and financial harm deserved review.
The event ended with applause and the president thanking participants.
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