President Joe Biden asserted on Wednesday that his administration deserves credit for the newly announced ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, despite former President Donald Trump already claiming the achievement. At a press conference, a reporter asked Biden, “How much credit do you give to the Trump team for this deal? Trump is already taking credit for it.”
Biden, smiling, replied, “Well, you know, this is the exact framework of the deal I proposed back in May. Exact. And we got the world to endorse it. Secondly, it’s America’s support for Israel that helped them badly weaken Hamas and its backers and create the conditions for this deal, told NBC News.
And thirdly, I knew this deal would have to be implemented by the next team, so I told my team to coordinate closely with the incoming team to make sure we’re all speaking with the same voice because that’s what American presidents do.”
As Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken began to leave the podium, another reporter shouted, “Who gets credit for this, Mr. President? You or Trump?” “Is that a joke?” Biden shot back before walking away.
The ceasefire comes after weeks of escalating violence in the region. Biden has repeatedly emphasized the importance of U.S. diplomatic and military support in helping Israel create conditions for such agreements. His remarks suggest a pointed effort to frame the ceasefire as part of a broader strategy initiated by his administration.
Trump, however, has sought to claim the spotlight, arguing his administration laid the groundwork for the agreement. His public statements credit his Middle East policies and relationships with regional leaders as pivotal to the deal.
The exchange highlights the ongoing battle for credit between the outgoing and incoming administrations, with each side aiming to position itself as the architect of peace in a volatile region.