Former President Joe Biden has publicly commended his successor, Donald Trump, for successfully negotiating a peace deal that secured the release of the last 20 surviving hostages held by Hamas, but not without attempting to claim a degree of credit for the monumental achievement.
The 20 living hostages, who have endured over two years of “unimaginable hell,” according to Biden, were freed this week as part of the deal, prompting widespread celebrations and hailing President Trump as a hero in Israel. RELATED: Two Years Of Captivity Ends: All 20 Surviving Hostages Freed In Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal
In a statement posted to X on Monday, Biden praised the current administration while simultaneously asserting that his previous work had set the stage for Trump’s success.
“The road to this deal was not easy. My Administration worked relentlessly to bring hostages home, get relief to Palestinian civilians, and end the war,” Biden wrote. “I commend President Trump and his team for their work to get a renewed ceasefire deal over the finish line.”
“I am deeply grateful and relieved that this day has come – for the last living 20 hostages who have been through unimaginable hell and are finally reunited with their families and loved ones,” he continued.
The former president also expressed joy for the civilians in Gaza, stating they “have experienced immeasurable loss and will finally get the chance to rebuild their lives.” He concluded with a hopeful outlook, saying, “Now, with the backing of the United States and the world, the Middle East is on a path to peace that I hope endures and a future for Israelis and Palestinians alike with equal measures of peace, dignity, and safety.”
Trump Takes Center Stage in the Middle East
The diplomatic breakthrough was sealed by a whirlwind trip by President Trump, who visited Israel on Monday to celebrate the return of the hostages.
Later, at a peace summit in Egypt alongside President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Trump addressed global leaders, calling for a “once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us.”
“Everybody said it’s not possible to do. And it’s going to happen. And it is happening before your very eyes,” Trump announced at the summit, which included representatives from nearly three dozen countries.
While in the region, the President also delivered a speech at the Knesset in Jerusalem, making him just the fourth US president to be granted the honor. Israeli lawmakers chanted Trump’s name and gave him multiple standing ovations, with some supporters even wearing red “Trump, The Peace President” caps.
In his address, Trump vowed to help rebuild Gaza and urged Palestinians to “turn forever from the path of terror and violence.”
Blame and Bipartisan Praise
However, President Trump did not shy away from laying blame on his Democratic predecessors, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, for what he described as their failure to stabilize the region.
“All of the countries in the Middle East that could have what we’re doing now, it could have happened a long time ago, but it was strangled and set back almost irretrievably by the administrations of Barack Obama and then Joe Biden,” Trump asserted, claiming there was a “hatred towards Israel” in those administrations.
He took a direct swipe at Biden’s attempt to claim credit: “Nobody asked Joe Biden to come up and speak, I guarantee you that.”
Trump also lambasted the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, calling it a “disaster for Israel, and it was a disaster for everyone.”
Despite the political sparring, the peace deal garnered rare bipartisan praise. Former Secretary of State and presidential contender Hillary Clinton also commended the effort, saying, “It’s a really significant first step and I really commend Trump and his administration.”
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