President Donald Trump's top national security aides gathered for an undisclosed, multi-hour meeting at Camp David on Friday to discuss the Iran war and the conflict in Yemen, according to three U.S. officials. The session was not announced by the administration and marked the first such high-level huddle since June 2025, shortly before Israel launched its war against Iran.
Vice President JD Vance chaired the discussion. Other attendees included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. One official described the atmosphere as decisive, stating that matters were either decided or deeply discussed regarding the Middle East crisis. The White House declined to comment on the meeting.
The gathering came as diplomatic negotiations with Iran stalled. President Trump indicated on Thursday that he is weighing a resumption of major combat operations, declaring, "Now I have to make a decision: either Iran signs the deal, or it won't exist any longer."
Simultaneously, the administration is navigating pressure from Saudi Arabia to join a planned offensive against the Houthis in Yemen. Riyadh has urged the president to authorize U.S. airstrikes against the group. While Trump has previously leaned against such an intervention, officials say his position could change.