A Trump transition official said President Biden will end in a "sad" way after "liing to the country" and taking credit for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in his farewell address Wednesday night. his tenure in the White House.
"Joe Biden left sadly. Lies to the country, trying to take credit from all sides for the deal President Trump made. Biden spent over a year securing the release of these hostages and peace." He failed. Trump succeeded," Trump's transition official told Fox Digital News on Wednesday night.
With fighting raging in the Middle East since October 2023, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire on Wednesday and secured the release of hostages.
Biden delivered his final address to the nation on Wednesday night, opening his remarks with a celebratory lap for the ceasefire.
Biden puts sole credit for Israel's deal with Hamas on 'oligarchy' threatening democracy in farewell speech
Left: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on 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 in Paris, France on December 7, 2024 British embassy reacts to meeting with Prince William, Prince of Wales. (Left: Pete Marovich/Getty Images; Right: Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images)
“My fellow Americans, I speak to you tonight from the Oval Office. Before I begin, let me address the important news from earlier today. After eight months of non-stop negotiations, my administration — my The administration — had a ceasefire, Israel and Hamas had a hostage agreement, the content of which I detailed in May," Biden said.
President Joe Biden delivers his farewell address in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, January 15, 2025, in Washington. (Mandel Ngan/AP Pool)
"This plan was developed and negotiated by my team and will be implemented primarily by the incoming administration. That's why I told my team to keep the incoming administration fully informed, because that's how it should be, as Americans together Work hard,” he continued.
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Former US President Donald Trump (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) pose for photos during their meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, the United States, on July 26, 2024. (Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO)/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
However, the incoming Trump administration is laying the groundwork for the deal, with sources telling Fox Digital that Trump's incoming Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu The recent meeting reportedly played a key role in the agreement.
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Netanyahu also thanked Trump on Wednesday for his "help in promoting the release of the hostages."
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke tonight to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to thank him for his assistance in promoting the release of the hostages and in helping Israel end the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families," said the official Israeli minister Account X has been published.
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts a rocket as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, on October 1, 2024. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
"The Prime Minister made clear that he is committed to doing everything in his power to repatriate all hostages and commended the President-elect of the United States for his remarks that the United States will work with Israel to ensure that Gaza never becomes a haven for terrorism."
The X account later added: "Prime Minister Netanyahu later spoke to US President Joe Biden and thanked him for his help in advancing the hostage agreement."
Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire, hostage release agreement: "Americans will be involved"
Asked who the history books would remember as supporting the ceasefire earlier Wednesday, Biden balked at the suggestion that Trump and his team spearheaded the effort.
"Mr. President, who gets credit for this in the history books, you or Trump?" Fox News' Jacqui Heinrich asked Biden during a White House press conference Wednesday afternoon.
"Is this a joke?" the president responded.
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When Heinrich said it was no joke, Biden responded: "Oh, thank you," and walked away.