Biden and Trump Join Forces to Bring Hostages in Gaza Back Home

During a two-hour meeting on Wednesday between President Joe Biden and President-elect Trump, the Gaza war was discussed as well as efforts in securing the release of hostages.

“He was very gracious,” Trump told reporters after the meeting, describing Biden’s detailed briefing on the current situation. “I wanted to know his views on where we are and what he thinks. And he gave them to me.”

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan later confirmed that the Biden administration has opened channels with Trump’s transition team to collaborate on securing a hostage deal before the January transfer of power.

“We’re prepared to work with the incoming team in common cause on a bipartisan basis to do everything in our collective American power to secure the release of the hostages, both living and deceased,” Sullivan said.

The meeting came at a critical juncture, as families of the seven remaining American hostages have been pushing for increased cooperation between both administrations.

According to Axios, Biden revealed to the group that during his earlier meeting with Trump, both leaders had acknowledged the critical urgency of resolving the hostage crisis before the January 20 transition of power. In a candid moment, the president also told the assembled families they were justified in their anger toward him for failing to secure their relatives’ release after so many months.

As for Trump, his position has been clear since his July convention speech, when he warned Hamas they would pay dearly if the hostages weren’t returned before his inauguration. It is believed that after a year in captivity, only half of the remaining 101 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 are still believed to be alive.

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