It looks like the Biden administration, on its way out the door, has begrudgingly given some credit where credit is due: to President-elect Donald Trump. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller called Trump’s role in brokering the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire “absolutely critical” during one of the last State Department briefings on Wednesday. And honestly, that’s not something you hear every day—a Democrat-led administration admitting that the incoming Republican president was pivotal in achieving a major diplomatic breakthrough. Talk about a plot twist.
Miller acknowledged that Trump’s team was at the table during the negotiations, a rare move for an outgoing administration to involve their successors in active diplomacy. He said the Trump team’s presence was “unusual” but instrumental in getting the deal done. Miller even went so far as to thank the incoming Trump team, noting that when Americans set aside partisan divides and work together, “there’s a lot that we can get done.” A noble sentiment, sure, but also an admission that Biden’s team couldn’t close the deal without Trump’s people stepping in.
The ceasefire agreement comes after a grueling 15 months of military campaigns in Gaza, which Israel launched in response to the horrific October 7 Hamas terror attack that left Israeli citizens reeling. The deal outlines a six-week truce and promises the release of some of the 100 Israeli hostages being held in Gaza. The Associated Press reported that the first phase of hostage releases will involve 33 women, children, elderly individuals, and wounded civilians in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian women and minors. While neither Israel nor Hamas has confirmed the agreement yet, Netanyahu has said final details are being ironed out.
BREAKING: After disgraced President Joe Biden tried taking credit for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire/hostage deal, Israel’s President Benjamin Netanyahu called to thank President Donald Trump for getting the deal done. He then made sure to put it on social media for all to see! pic.twitter.com/Omwuc902Dg
— ᴊᴀᴄᴋ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ (@AmericazOutlaw) January 17, 2025
But while Biden might want to take a victory lap on this one, others are pointing out that Trump’s team may have done more to make this happen than the outgoing administration. Steven Witkoff, Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, reportedly flew to Israel to personally meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and push the deal forward. According to the Times of Israel, Witkoff managed to sway Netanyahu more in one meeting than Biden managed to do in a year. Ouch. That kind of comparison probably isn’t sitting well with the president, who famously quipped, “Is that a joke?” when asked who deserved more credit for the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Trump wasted no time celebrating the deal, taking to Truth Social to share his thoughts in signature Trump fashion. “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November,” he wrote, framing the achievement as a product of his election win and a signal of how his administration will prioritize peace and the safety of allies moving forward.
BREAKING: Trump reveals that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a hostage deal in the Middle East.
One week ago, Trump warned that “all hell will break out” if the hostages weren’t returned.
“If [hostages] are not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out.” pic.twitter.com/tKXENeHQTY
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 15, 2025
While details of the agreement are still being finalized, the narrative here is clear: Trump’s incoming administration is already flexing its diplomatic muscles, and Democrats might not like the optics of sharing credit. Still, with a historic agreement in the works and lives potentially being saved, most Americans would agree that results speak louder than egos. Whether Biden likes it or not, Trump’s team had a major hand in this one.
