Trump tests waters on foreign policy before taking office

WASHINGTON (TNND) — President-elect Donald Trump will travel to Paris later this week for the reopening of Notre Dame, adding to the ways he's making an early re-entrance onto the world stage, seven weeks before his second inauguration.

On Monday via a Truth Social post, Trump demanded Hamas release its hostages by the time he's sworn into office.

"(I)f the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity. Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America," Trump said.

Trump did not offer specifics, but his statement prompted praise from some Israeli officials.

In an interview last week, Trump's soon-to-be national security adviser Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., said there's a "'President Trump effect' where suddenly everybody's ready to deal.'"

That isn't playing out when it comes to Russia's war in Ukraine.

During the final presidential debate, Trump said, “I’ll get the war with Ukraine and Russia ended. If I’m president-elect, I’ll get it done before even becoming president.”

That hasn't happened. In fact, Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeev, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, recently told Bloomberg News there's a "50-50" chance Russia will eventually reach an agreement with Trump.

“A truce right now is good for Ukraine and for the U.S., but for us it brings zero benefits - because we’re winning,” Malofeev said.

The first test of Trump's sway on the world stage may come on the economic front. He recently threatened Canada and Mexico with crushing tariffs if they don't meet his demands on border security–a move President Joe Biden called counterproductive.

“The last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships," Biden said.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke with Trump on the phone and while it's not clear what, if any, agreements were made, she said afterward, "There will be no potential trade war."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went all the way to Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence over the weekend to discuss the issue. Trudeau later told reporters, "It was an excellent conversation."

Trump called their meeting "very productive."

Once Trump is sworn in, many will be watching to see where he decides to go on his first international trip, which can signal a president's priorities. Trump's first foreign trip in his first term had six stops starting in Saudi Arabia, then Israel, the West Bank, Vatican City, Belgium and Sicily.