Biden Administration Refuses To Credit Trump For Role In Hostage Agreement

The Biden administration is under fire for refusing to credit President-elect Donald Trump for helping secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanking both Biden and Trump for their involvement, the White House continues to dismiss Trump’s contribution.

During a press conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked by Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich why Biden would not acknowledge Trump’s role. Jean-Pierre responded by claiming that the deal was the result of months of work by Biden’s administration, ignoring Trump’s influence on the negotiations.

Contradicting the White House stance, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller publicly stated that Trump and his team were “critical” in finalizing the agreement. He highlighted the cooperation between the outgoing Biden administration and Trump’s transition team in making the deal possible.

Biden’s reaction to a reporter’s question about Trump’s involvement was dismissive, responding with, “Is that a joke?” This starkly contrasted with Netanyahu’s public gratitude toward Trump for his efforts in advancing the deal.

Trump celebrated the agreement on Truth Social, crediting his election victory for pressuring Hamas into action. He promised to maintain strong support for Israel and ensure that Gaza would not return to being a terrorist stronghold.

The Biden administration’s reluctance to acknowledge Trump’s involvement has drawn criticism for appearing politically motivated. Critics argue that prioritizing partisan politics over national unity damages the administration’s credibility and undermines bipartisan achievements.