John Kirby says Biden and Trump were ‘united’ in securing ceasefire: ‘Enough credit’
White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said he was “confident” that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas would be implemented after 467 days of war, adding that “enough credit is due.”
“We don’t pay too much attention to credit,” Kirby told “The Story” on Wednesday. “As the president said, I mean, we work as a team, a team of Americans to solve this problem and try to get Americans home to their families. That’s what’s most important. I think a lot of credit goes to it. .but that’s not the case.
Kirby acknowledged President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff as a key figure in brokering the deal.
Hostage deal shows Hamas takes Trump’s ‘hell to pay’ threat seriously
“We are working together as a team, just as the American people expect us to do,” Biden’s national security communications adviser said.
“The president has made it clear to us on the national security team that we need to make sure that the Trump team, and Mr. Witkoff in particular, is an important part and fully committed to everything we do because when they leave us,” Kobe said than revealed.
“Mr. Witkoff traveled to the region. Over the past week or so, he and our Special Middle East Coordinator, Brett McGurk, have spoken multiple times a day as we discussed the details and worked to get the job done. Witkoff The gentleman himself attributes the enjoyment of his work to working with us.
An IDF officer looks at a map in Khan Yunis, Gaza. (Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson Unit)
Kirby said the “bottom line” was “to make a deal, to get the hostages home and to end the war.”
“President-elect Trump and President Biden both share that goal and are making sure their teams buy into the outcome, too,” he added.
Asked whether Trump deserves credit for the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Biden hesitated: “Is it a joke?”
As of Wednesday, Kirby said he was “confident” in the deal’s implementation, though he acknowledged there was still “hard work” ahead as the conflict with Hamas continues since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel .
Hamas terrorists paraglided into Israel. (Hamas)
President-elect Donald Trump warned Hamas on January 7 that “hell will break out” if the hostages are not returned before his inauguration.
The agreement is set to take effect on January 19, the day before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Kirby said “big hurdles” had been “overcome,” including finalizing the deal, signing the deal and putting it in place. “Hopefully this weekend we’ll start to see some family reunions,” he said.
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