Live

Trump admin live updates: Trump says Hamas will release hostage Edan Alexander

Trump did not provide any timing on when Alexander is expected to be released.

Last Updated: May 11, 2025, 7:01 PM EDT

The White House said on Sunday that it reached a trade deal with China as the two countries negotiated for a second day in Switzerland. China has yet to comment on Sunday's talks.

"We’re confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us to work toward resolving that national emergency,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters in Geneva. But Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said "substantial progress" had been made but stopped short of touting a full deal.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with the United Kingdom -- the first in what the White House said it hopes will be a flurry of agreements while the reciprocal tariff pause is in effect. With UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on speaker phone in the Oval Office, the leaders conceded that they are still working out the details of the agreement.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
May 11, 2025, 7:20 PM EDT

Trump says American hostage Edan Alexander will be released by Hamas

President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday, saying Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander will be released by Hamas.

Trump did not provide any timing on when Alexander is expected to be released, but said, "This is the first of those final steps necessary to end this brutal conflict."

President Donald Trump sits inside the Oval Office of the White House, May 9, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters

The president's comments come after Hamas announced earlier in the day that "the release of Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a dual US citizen, will be part of the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire."

The statement said Hamas has been in contact with American officials "over the past few days" as part of ceasefire negotiations.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

May 11, 2025, 7:01 PM EDT

Trump to sign executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug costs

President Donald Trump announced on social media on Sunday that he will sign an executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug costs in the United States.

The president claimed the order will reduce prescription drug and pharmaceutical prices between 30% and 80% "almost immediately."

Trump said he will sign the order on Monday morning at 9 a.m. ET.

A bottle of prescription medication is seen in an undated stock photo.
STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images

"I will be instituting a MOST FAVORED NATION’S POLICY whereby the United States will pay the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World," Trump said of the order.

The president claimed prices "will rise throughout the World in order to equalize and, for the first time in many years, bring FAIRNESS TO AMERICA!"

"Our Country will finally be treated fairly, and our citizens Healthcare Costs will be reduced by numbers never even thought of before," Trump claimed.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

May 11, 2025, 3:56 PM EDT

Hamas says it will release American as part of ceasefire negotiations

Hamas on Sunday released a statement announcing "the release of Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a dual US citizen, will be part of the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire." The statement says Hamas has been in contact with American officials "over the past few days" as part of ceasefire negotiations.

A woman holds an image of hostage Edan Alexander in Jerusalem, Oct. 25, 2023.
Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images

There is no date or timeline associated with the announcement.

Edan Alexander, who has dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship, was serving in the Israeli military and stationed near Gaza when he was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Israeli prime minister's office said in a statement that the United States informed Israel of the "gesture" and that it is being done "without any compensation or conditions."

The statement said the U.S. told Israel that this is expected to lead to negotiations for the release of more hostages.

-ABC News’ Diaa Ostaz

May 11, 2025, 2:52 PM EDT

Trump teases ‘most impactful’ message coming

Trump posted on his social media platform that next post on his Truth Social will be one of his most important ones.

"My next TRUTH will be one of the most important and impactful I have ever issued. ENJOY," Trump wrote.

-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie

Sponsored Content by Taboola