President Biden will end his term in the White House on a “sad” note after he “lied to the nation” and took credit for the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in his farewell address Wednesday night, Trump transition officials say. said the person.
“Joe Biden is saddened. All parties are lying to the public in an effort to take credit for the deal that President Trump believes they made possible. Biden will ensure the release of these hostages and peace. He failed. Trump succeeded,” a Trump transition official told Fox News Digital on Wednesday night.
War has been raging in the Middle East since October 2023, with Israel and Hamas reaching a ceasefire agreement on Wednesday, which also secured the release of hostages.
Biden delivered his final address to the nation on Wednesday night, taking a triumphant step towards a ceasefire in his opening remarks.
Biden praises Israel-Hamas deal as his only achievement, warns of ‘oligarchy’ threatening democracy in farewell speech
Left: President Joe Biden speaks about the latest developments in Syria in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on December 8, 2024. Right: President-elect Donald Trump reacts during a meeting with Prince William at the British Embassy in Paris, France, on December 7, 2024. (Left: Pete Marovich/Getty Images, Right: Oleg Nikin/Getty Images)
“My fellow Americans, I speak to you tonight from the Oval Office. Before I do that, let me tell you about important news from earlier today. After eight months of non-stop negotiations, “Israel and Hamas have reached a hostage agreement, the elements of which I explained in detail in May,” Biden said.
President Joe Biden delivers his farewell address in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, speaking from the Oval Office at the White House. (Mandel Gunn/Pool via AP)
“This plan was developed and negotiated by my team and will be executed primarily by the incoming administration. That’s why I told my team to keep the incoming administration well-informed. “This is how we should cooperate as a team,” he continued. .
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Former President Donald Trump (left) shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and poses for a photo during a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, USA on July 26, 2024. (Amos ben Gershom (GPO) / Handout/Anadolu, via Getty Images)
But sources who spoke to FOX Digital said credit for reaching the deal was further enhanced by the incoming Trump administration, with recent meetings between Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. reportedly played a pivotal role in the agreement.
FOX News goes inside the IDF’s war against Hamas
Netanyahu also thanked Trump on Wednesday for his “support in facilitating the release of the hostages.”
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke tonight with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and expressed his gratitude for his efforts to free the hostages and help Israel end the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families.” said the official Prime Minister. Israeli Minister X’s account has been posted.
Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts a rocket, seen from Ashkelon, Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
“The Prime Minister made clear that he is committed to returning all hostages to the extent possible, and praised the U.S. president-elect’s statement that the United States will work with Israel to ensure that Gaza never becomes a terrorist hub.”
The X account then added, “Prime Minister Netanyahu then met with US President Joe Biden and also expressed his gratitude for his cooperation in proceeding with the hostage deal.”
Israel-Hamas ceasefire, hostage release agreement reached: “America will join in”
Asked earlier Wednesday who would go down in the history books as supporting the cease-fire agreement, Biden balked at the suggestion that Trump and his team spearheaded the effort.
“In the history books, who gets the credit for this, Mr. President, you or Trump?” Fox News’ Jackie Heinrich asked Biden during a White House press briefing Wednesday afternoon.
“Are you kidding?” the President replied.
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When Mr. Heinrich said he wasn’t kidding, Mr. Biden responded, “Oh, thank you,” and walked away.
