‘Is That a Joke?’ Biden Retorts When Asked If He or Trump Deserve Credit for Ceasefire Deal
President Joe Biden delivered remarks from the White House Wednesday afternoon regarding the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in which he thanked President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration for working as “one team,” but also made it clear that he felt he deserves the bulk of the credit for the agreement.
News of the deal broke earlier in the day Wednesday, and will include a ceasefire and release of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas.
Biden opened his remarks by calling it a “very good afternoon, because at long last I can announce a ceasefire, and a hostage deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas,” after more than 15 months of conflict, “terror for the hostages, their families, the Israeli people,” and suffering by the “innocent people of Gaza.”
The deal reflected “what I laid out in detail this past May,” said Biden, who went on to explain the various phases of the deal and timeframe for release of hostages, including American citizens.
Biden described the deal as “one of the toughest negotiations I’ve ever experienced,” and spoke about the coalition of other countries who helped, Israel’s successful battlefield efforts against Hezbollah, and other developments that would be positive for both the people of Israel and the Palestinians.
“You know, the Bible says blessed are the peacemakers,” Biden said before thanking the “many peacemakers” who “helped make this deal happen, including an extraordinary team of American diplomats who have worked nonstop for months to get this done,” like Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who “led the effort,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other officials in his administration.
“I’d also note that this deal was developed and negotiated under my administration, but its terms will be implemented for the most part by the next administration,” Biden emphasized. “In these past few days, we’ve been speaking as one team.”
Despite how it had “been a time of real turmoil in the Middle East,” Biden continued, “as I prepare to leave office, our friends are strong, our enemies are weak, and there’s genuine opportunity for a new future” in the region.
“We’re handing off to the next team a real opportunity for a better future for the Middle East. I hope they will take it,” he said of his successor, adding an anecdote about former Sen. George Mitchell (D-ME), who worked on the peace deal in Northern Ireland, saying that diplomacy was 700 days of failure and one day of success.
After he wrapped his remarks, a reporter asked Biden about how he saw the “future” of the deal, since its implementation would be in the hands of the Trump administration, “and also how much credit do you give to the Trump team for this deal? Trump is already taking credit for it.”
Biden replied:
Well, you know, this is the exact framework of the deal I proposed back in May. Exact. And — 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.
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 turned to leave, another reporter called out, “Who deserves credit for this, Mr. President — you or Trump?”
The president paused and turned around and replied, with a grin, “Is that a joke? Oh. Thank you.”
He then turned back around and exited the room.
Watch the clip above via CNN.
