Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
New York, New York

(February 26, 2024)

5:32 P.M. EST
 
Q    Mr. President — Mr. President, you’re heading to the border on Thursday.  Why go to the border now, Mr. President?  You’re going on Thursday.  Why go now?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I’ve been planning to go Thursday.  What I didn’t know is my good friend, apparently, is going. 
 
Q    And will you meet with migrants while you’re there, Mr. President?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I’m not going to announce ahead of time.  Secret Service doesn’t like me announcing exactly what I’m going to do.
 
(Cross-talk.)
 
Q    Can you give us a sense of when you think that ceasefire will start, sir?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I hope by the beginning of the weekend — I mean the end of the weekend.  
 
At least, my —
 
Q    Say again.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  My National Security Advisor tells me that we’re close.  We’re close.  It’s not done yet.  And my hope is by next Monday, we’ll have a ceasefire.
 
5:34 P.M. EST