Mike Waltz Warns Hostage-Takers: “Bullet in Your Damn Forehead”

[Social Media]

 

US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for National Security Adviser, Representative Mike Waltz, issued a stark warning to those holding American hostages, promising severe consequences for such actions. Speaking to conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, Waltz articulated the incoming administration's uncompromising stance, emphasizing that there would be “nothing but consequences” for hostage-takers, ranging from financial penalties to fatal responses.  

 

Watch: The incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz: “You take an American, you illegally detain them, if you're a nation state or if you're a terrorist, you hold them hostage there’s going to be hell to pay (…) maybe even a bullet in your damn forehead”

The incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz:

“You take an American, you illegally detain them, if you're a nation state or if you're a terrorist, you hold them hostage there’s going to be hell to pay (…) maybe even a bullet in your damn forehead” pic.twitter.com/bgnUAEDOvy

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) December 22, 2024

 

Waltz directly addressed Hamas, the group responsible for the October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, which led to over 1,200 deaths and the capture of 251 hostages, including US citizens. He criticized past responses to hostage crises as insufficient and reiterated the administration’s resolve to deter further abductions. “If the bad guys feel nothing but cost and pain for taking our people, they’re going to stop doing it,” Waltz asserted, advocating for a hardline approach over negotiations.  

 

Hamas and the Hostages  
Israeli officials report that seven of the remaining 96 hostages held in Gaza have US citizenship, with only three believed to be alive. Tuesday will mark 445 days since these hostages were taken, surpassing the duration of the 1979 US embassy crisis in Iran.  

 

Despite his tough rhetoric, Waltz suggested that Hamas might be allowed to continue operating if it releases the American hostages. “Hamas has every exit blocked except one, and that’s to release our hostages if you want to live,” he warned, leaving the door open to conditional survival for the organization.  

 

This stance diverges from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position, which insists on Hamas’s total military and political dismantlement regardless of the hostage situation. Waltz’s remarks hint at a potential rift in US-Israeli strategy but align with Trump’s transactional style of diplomacy.

 

Broader Regional Implications  
Waltz also addressed Iran’s precarious position following Israel's recent covert operations, including September's Mossad-led attack that sabotaged Hezbollah's communication infrastructure. He praised this as a masterstroke that not only disrupted Hezbollah but also weakened Iran’s regional influence. “Taking down Hezbollah… exposed Iran’s air defenses so that they literally are naked right now and on their back foot,” Waltz said, forecasting broader implications for Middle Eastern geopolitics.  

 

Optimistic about normalization efforts between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Waltz emphasized that resolving the Gaza situation could unlock unprecedented diplomatic opportunities.  

 

As Trump’s inauguration approaches, the administration’s zero-tolerance message underscores a critical shift in US foreign policy. Waltz’s explicit threats and focus on punitive measures signal a dramatic departure from traditional diplomatic approaches to hostage crises. Whether this strategy succeeds in securing the release of American hostages remains to be seen.  

 

Based on a report by EconoTimes 2024-12-24

 

 

 

[Nick Carter icp]

The tide has turned .

Since Bidens Presidency it became acceptable to take USA hostages and keep them .

   Terrorist group will need to think twice before talking USA hostages , bullets in the head will be the response 

[rct99q]

Will see how long public opinion holds up when dead US hostages start appearing on the evening news.

 

I do not disagree with this approach but just need to prepare the public that if you carry thru with this threat you will see body bags in news. 

 

And no, it will not stop groups from kidnapping. Even an untrained, uneducated person knows that these religious fanatics do not respond to these or most other types of threats.

 

History is full of examples.

[RichardColeman]

Maybe he can start with that nutcase muslim murdering people in germany

[BritScot]

1 hour ago, rct99q said:

Will see how long public opinion holds up when dead US hostages start appearing on the evening news.

 

I do not disagree with this approach but just need to prepare the public that if you carry thru with this threat you will see body bags in news. 

 

And no, it will not stop groups from kidnapping. Even an untrained, uneducated person knows that these religious fanatics do not respond to these or most other types of threats.

 

History is full of examples.

You need to read some history! Ask yourself why Russians are never taken hostage in the middle east? You will find its because of their response years ago. It involved going after the terrorists male family members and I believe removal of a body part! Their hostages were immediately released. Over millennium it has been shown the only way to deal with terrorists is with terror. 

[Will B Good]

9 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

The tide has turned .

Since Bidens Presidency it became acceptable to take USA hostages and keep them .

   Terrorist group will need to think twice before talking USA hostages , bullets in the head will be the response 

Hostages

 

Donald Trump Administration (2017–2021)

• North Korea Detentions: Several Americans were detained in North Korea, including Otto Warmbier, a student who was released in a comatose state in 2017 and died shortly after.

 

Joe Biden Administration (2021–Present)

• Iran Detainees (2023): The Biden administration secured the release of five U.S. citizens wrongfully detained in Iran through a negotiated deal.

 

So who in North Korea got a bullet in the head?

[jcmj]

It’s time to make America strong again. It’s been weak for years and nothing like America used to be. It’ll take more than this, but it’s a start. America has been the butt of jokes all over the world and at least 1/2 of them don’t even know that. 

[Nick Carter icp]

4 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Hostages

 

Donald Trump Administration (2017–2021)

• North Korea Detentions: Several Americans were detained in North Korea, including Otto Warmbier, a student who was released in a comatose state in 2017 and died shortly after.

 

 

    Otto Warmbier WASNT a hostage .

He was being held on crimes of theft, which he was guilty of .

No demands were made for Ottos release , so he wasn't being held hostage .

   He was being held in jail for the crime he committed 

 

[koolkarl]

Well said Mike.  And while you are at it, ban all muslims from flying so the rest of the non Islamic world isn't

inconvenienced, wasting hours waiting in line, and spending billions annually on security for this group.  I am sick of

it and will only fly if absolutely necessary. 

[Chomper Higgot]

I don’t suppose Shapiro asked Waltz about the consequences of cutting up U.S. citizens with a bone saw?

 

Or would that have got I the way of this deal he has in mind for Saudi Arabia?!

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I don’t suppose Shapiro asked Waltz about the consequences of cutting up U.S. citizens with a bone saw?

 

Or would that have got I the way of this deal he has in mind for Saudi Arabia?!

 

   Who are you referring to ?

Who is the American citizen that got cut up with a bone saw and by whom ?

[Will B Good]

13 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

    Otto Warmbier WASNT a hostage .

He was being held on crimes of theft, which he was guilty of .

No demands were made for Ottos release , so he wasn't being held hostage .

   He was being held in jail for the crime he committed 

 

 

15 years for taking down a poster....allegedly......and that isn't taking him hostage???.......555

[Nick Carter icp]

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

 

15 years for taking down a poster....allegedly......and that isn't taking him hostage???.......555

 

   It was indeed a severe punishment .

He got charged with theft and subversion and a hostile act against the state  

But being held hostage means that the holder makes demands for the held peoples release .

   Demands were not made to Ottos release and therefore he wasn't being held hostage  

[Will B Good]

4 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   It was indeed a severe punishment .

He got charged with theft and subversion and a hostile act against the state  

But being held hostage means that the holder makes demands for the held peoples release .

   Demands were not made to Ottos release and therefore he wasn't being held hostage  

 

So if I take some hostage.......but make no demands.....they are not a hostage?....mmmmm??

 

Demands were made by North Korea to secure Otto Warmbier’s release, though they were largely implicit rather than formally stated. North Korea has a history of using detained foreigners as bargaining chips to extract concessions or demonstrate diplomatic leverage, and Warmbier’s case was no exception.

 

Demands and Diplomatic Context

1. Public Confession and Propaganda Victory

• North Korea demanded that Otto Warmbier confess publicly to his alleged crime of stealing a propaganda poster.

• His confession was broadcast globally, likely serving North Korea’s aim to portray the U.S. as morally corrupt and justify their anti-American policies.

2. Negotiation Leverage

• Warmbier’s detention came at a time of high tensions between the U.S. and North Korea over nuclear weapons programs and sanctions.

• Analysts suggest North Korea may have intended to use him as leverage for future negotiations on sanctions relief or foreign aid.

3. Ransom Allegations

• In 2019, reports emerged that the U.S. government agreed to pay $2 million for Warmbier’s medical expenses as a condition of his release.

• The Trump administration later clarified that no payment was actually made, though the demand highlighted North Korea’s financial motives.

4. Diplomatic Engagement

• The U.S. made several diplomatic overtures to secure Warmbier’s release.

• Sweden, which acts as an intermediary for the U.S. in North Korea, likely played a role in back-channel communications.

 

 

While no official demands were confirmed, North Korea likely viewed Otto Warmbier’s detention as an opportunity for propaganda and bargaining leverage. 

[Nick Carter icp]

3 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

So if I take some hostage.......but make no demands.....they are not a hostage?....mmmmm??

 

 

 

   Otto was being held on crimes of theft . 

He commited a crime and was being held for that crime .

What were the actual demands made by N.K for Ottos rease ?

What did NK ask for ?

   Being jailed for theft and no demands being made for his release, means that he wasnt being held hostage .

   All this effort to change the meanings' of a  word, just to cover up Bidens failings to get the American citizens released from Gaza 

[Will B Good]

1 minute ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Otto was being held on crimes of theft . 

He commited a crime and was being held for that crime .

What were the actual demands made by N.K for Ottos rease ?

What did NK ask for ?

   Being jailed for theft and no demands being made for his release, means that he wasnt being held hostage .

   All this effort to change the meanings' of a  word, just to cover up Bidens failings to get the American citizens released from Gaza 

 

So you read none of this????

 

 

Demands were made by North Korea to secure Otto Warmbier’s release, though they were largely implicit rather than formally stated. North Korea has a history of using detained foreigners as bargaining chips to extract concessions or demonstrate diplomatic leverage, and Warmbier’s case was no exception.

 

Demands and Diplomatic Context

1. Public Confession and Propaganda Victory

• North Korea demanded that Otto Warmbier confess publicly to his alleged crime of stealing a propaganda poster.

• His confession was broadcast globally, likely serving North Korea’s aim to portray the U.S. as morally corrupt and justify their anti-American policies.

2. Negotiation Leverage

• Warmbier’s detention came at a time of high tensions between the U.S. and North Korea over nuclear weapons programs and sanctions.

• Analysts suggest North Korea may have intended to use him as leverage for future negotiations on sanctions relief or foreign aid.

3. Ransom Allegations

• In 2019, reports emerged that the U.S. government agreed to pay $2 million for Warmbier’s medical expenses as a condition of his release.

• The Trump administration later clarified that no payment was actually made, though the demand highlighted North Korea’s financial motives.

4. Diplomatic Engagement

• The U.S. made several diplomatic overtures to secure Warmbier’s release.

• Sweden, which acts as an intermediary for the U.S. in North Korea, likely played a role in back-channel communications.

 

 

While no official demands were confirmed, North Korea likely viewed Otto Warmbier’s detention as an opportunity for propaganda and bargaining leverage. 

[Nick Carter icp]

25 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

So you read none of this????

 

 

Demands were made by North Korea to secure Otto Warmbier’s release, though they were largely implicit rather than formally stated. North Korea has a history of using detained foreigners as bargaining chips to extract concessions or demonstrate diplomatic leverage, and Warmbier’s case was no exception.

 

Demands and Diplomatic Context

1. Public Confession and Propaganda Victory

• North Korea demanded that Otto Warmbier confess publicly to his alleged crime of stealing a propaganda poster.

• His confession was broadcast globally, likely serving North Korea’s aim to portray the U.S. as morally corrupt and justify their anti-American policies.

2. Negotiation Leverage

• Warmbier’s detention came at a time of high tensions between the U.S. and North Korea over nuclear weapons programs and sanctions.

• Analysts suggest North Korea may have intended to use him as leverage for future negotiations on sanctions relief or foreign aid.

3. Ransom Allegations

• In 2019, reports emerged that the U.S. government agreed to pay $2 million for Warmbier’s medical expenses as a condition of his release.

• The Trump administration later clarified that no payment was actually made, though the demand highlighted North Korea’s financial motives.

4. Diplomatic Engagement

• The U.S. made several diplomatic overtures to secure Warmbier’s release.

• Sweden, which acts as an intermediary for the U.S. in North Korea, likely played a role in back-channel communications.

 

 

While no official demands were confirmed, North Korea likely viewed Otto Warmbier’s detention as an opportunity for propaganda and bargaining leverage. 

 

  Did you write it yourself or did you Copy and paste if from somewhere else ?

   But it didn't actually state what demands N.K made , because N.K didn't make any demands for his release .

  Being asked to pay hospital bills doesn't mean you are being held hostage.

[Bkk Brian]

10 hours ago, Social Media said:

Despite his tough rhetoric, Waltz suggested that Hamas might be allowed to continue operating if it releases the American hostages. “Hamas has every exit blocked except one, and that’s to release our hostages if you want to live,” he warned, leaving the door open to conditional survival for the organization

He's also offering other options. Unlike the scum Hamas who actually did execute hostages with a bullet to the head.

[Nick Carter icp]

37 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

So you read none of this????

 

 

 

   So you copy and past ten bullet points and expect me to read them all and do some research and investigate the points and reply to those points ?

   It would take me a few hours doing web searches and reading and replying .

   You spend ten seconds copying and pasting and you expect me to spend a few hours replying to your C& P 

  No only that you don't even reply to 1 question that I asked

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, koolkarl said:

Well said Mike.  And while you are at it, ban all muslims from flying so the rest of the non Islamic world isn't

inconvenienced, wasting hours waiting in line, and spending billions annually on security for this group.  I am sick of

it and will only fly if absolutely necessary. 

Agreed, but the disruption and inconvenience we suffer is to some extent of our own making, I mean is it really necessary to search  absolutely everybody for explosives etc including even 80 year old non muslim  grandmothers just to appear "non discriminatory" ?

We all know who the perpetrators of hi jackings are most likely to be , and what exactly is the problem with appearing discriminatory in such matters, the time to worry about hurt feelings has long gone. I see no reason why there should not be a seperate queue even a separate dedicated terminal for muslims,  and not just at airports, They have no one to blame but themselves

[cdemundo]

"maybe even a bullet in your damn forehead”

 

Maybe.

Does he think nobody ever thought of that before?

It would be great if it was that simple.

[WDSmart]

This doesn't sound like a good way to start a negotiation to release hostages.

[LukKrueng]

12 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

The tide has turned .

Since Bidens Presidency it became acceptable to take USA hostages and keep them .

   Terrorist group will need to think twice before talking USA hostages , bullets in the head will be the response 

Let's wait and see what the new administration actually does after January 20th

[HK MacPhooey]

14 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

The tide has turned .

Since Bidens Presidency it became acceptable to take USA hostages and keep them .

   Terrorist group will need to think twice before talking USA hostages , bullets in the head will be the response 

Similar to the previous disastrous Democrat POTUS Jimmy Carter - probably the sole reason we have all the problems in the ME today are a result of his weakness that led to the fall of the Shah of Iran and all the S#1t that followed

[Purdey]

Seems like it is easy to threaten but not easy to do. Sending US troops into Palestine will make them stick out a mile. Targeted missiles are more likely to kill the hostages. Just how is all this to be done?

[Emdog]

23 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

    Otto Warmbier WASNT a hostage .

He was being held on crimes of theft, which he was guilty of .

No demands were made for Ottos release , so he wasn't being held hostage .

   He was being held in jail for the crime he committed 

 

His theft? You think this punishment fits the crime? He was convicted of attempting to steal a propaganda poster from his hotel, for which he was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment with hard labor. Shortly after his sentencing in March 2016, Warmbier suffered a severe neurological injury from an unknown cause and fell into a coma, which lasted until his death.

Hard labor in N Korea would no doubt  be very hard. Medical and nutrition needs being met? What do you think? You position is absurd

 

[Will B Good]

Just now, Emdog said:

His theft? You think this punishment fits the crime? He was convicted of attempting to steal a propaganda poster from his hotel, for which he was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment with hard labor. Shortly after his sentencing in March 2016, Warmbier suffered a severe neurological injury from an unknown cause and fell into a coma, which lasted until his death.

Hard labor in N Korea would no doubt  be very hard. Medical and nutrition needs being met? What do you think? You position is absurd

 

 

You're onto a loser here....literally......save yourself some time and effort.....555

[Nick Carter icp]

1 hour ago, Emdog said:

His theft? You think this punishment fits the crime? He was convicted of attempting to steal a propaganda poster from his hotel, for which he was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment with hard labor. Shortly after his sentencing in March 2016, Warmbier suffered a severe neurological injury from an unknown cause and fell into a coma, which lasted until his death.

Hard labor in N Korea would no doubt  be very hard. Medical and nutrition needs being met? What do you think? You position is absurd

 

 

   His sentence for his criminal act of theft is a different matter .

The point was that he was being held for theft , he wasn't being held for no reason and he wasn't being held with demands for his release , which means that he wasn't being held hostage .

   He was jailed for theft 

[Nick Carter icp]

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

 

You're onto a loser here....literally......save yourself some time and effort.....555

 

   Stop trolling .

At least he can write his own opinion, rather than just endless copying and pasting and posting other peoples opinion .

[candide]

As if the Hamas or other terrorists would be impressed by the perspective  of being shot!