Donald Trump is taking credit for the recent Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, claiming it would never have happened without his involvement. He also took aim at President Joe Biden for announcing the achievement as a success of his administration.
Just days before his second inauguration, Trump told the Dan Bongino Show that his team’s pressure played a pivotal role in securing the agreement, which includes the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
“If we weren’t involved in this deal, the deal would’ve never happened,” Trump said, adding that his administration, particularly Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, was crucial in pushing negotiations forward. He insisted that his efforts changed the course of the talks “fast,” and even made it clear that he expected the deal to be finalized before he took the oath of office.
The ceasefire deal, which still needs approval from Israel’s security cabinet, is expected to go into effect just days before Trump’s inauguration on Monday. It includes an initial 42-day ceasefire, with the release of 33 hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza’s population centers. If successful, it could set the stage for a longer-term peace agreement.
Trump went on to criticize President Joe Biden, who has been overseeing the negotiations. He called Biden “ungracious” and claimed that the outgoing president had done “nothing” to make the deal happen. “He didn’t do anything! If I didn’t do this, if we didn’t get involved, the hostages would never be out,” Trump added.
Trump’s tendency to take credit for outcomes, even when they’re the result of long-standing diplomatic efforts under the Biden administration, has become a recurring theme.
On Thursday, Biden responded to questions about the ceasefire in an MSNBC interview, noting that he had not spoken to Trump about the negotiations recently.
