WASHINGTON — Democrats largely kept quiet about President Trump’s role in brokering a delicate peace agreement between Israel and Hamas as he attended the historic “Summit for Peace” in Egypt.
On Capitol Hill, while some cheered the Gaza agreement and Hamas’ release of the last of the 20 living Israeli hostages held in captivity, almost none of them seemed to acknowledge Trump’s role in the feat — and influential left-wing voices issued no statements at all.
Far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — who have both described Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza as a “genocide” — were among those who did not weigh in.
“If you really believe it was a genocide then you believe Donald Trump just ended a genocide — yes?” entrepreneur Mike Solana quipped about the dynamic.
Even the few prominent Dems who credited Trump generally seemed to do so begrudgingly or after they had been pressed by reporters about whether the president deserves kudos.
“I don’t think that we should hold in credit where it’s due,” former Vice President Kamala Harris told MSNBC’s “The Weekend” — in an awkward response after the anchor noted that Hillary Clinton praised Trump.
“I really do hope it [the deal] becomes real,” she added. “I commend the people who have been a part of this process. I commend the Qataris, the Egyptians and the president.”
A handful of Democrats in Congress made similar statements praising the release of the hostages and the ceasefire — though unlike Harris, they made no mention of the president.
“It is extraordinary and heart-rending to see hostages returned to their families in Israel after their two-year ordeal in captivity. It is all so long overdue, and the world prays for sustained peace-building and continued healing,” House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said.
Stay up to date on the Israel-Hamas cease-fire exchange
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) similarly snubbed Trump: “Thankful that all 20 living Israeli hostages are home with their loved ones. And that humanitarian assistance is being surged into Gaza for Palestinian civilians.”
“We must now recommit to achieving a just and lasting peace in the region,” Jeffries posted in a statement on X. “Nothing less than that is acceptable.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the highest-ranking elected Jewish official in the US, was one of the few Democratic leaders in Congress to credit Trump.
“Today is a wonderful day. Finally, finally finally, the last living hostages brutally held by Hamas are home, an immense and overwhelming sigh of relief,” he said in a statement obtained by The Post.
“I commend the enormous advocacy of the tireless hostage families, President Trump, his administration, and all who helped make this moment happen.”
Follow The Post’s live blog for the latest on the hostage release as Israel-Hamas cease-fire takes effect.
Clinton was one of the rare Democrats who gave credit to her former bitter foe of her own volition.
“I really commend President Trump and his administration, as well as Arab leaders in the region for making the commitment to the 20-point plan and seeing a path forward for what’s often called the day after,” Clinton told CBS News 24/7 last week.
Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, later followed suit, saying that Trump and other partners involved in negotiating the agreement “deserve great credit.”
Later in the day on Monday, former President Joe Biden eventually joined in on commending Trump.
“The road to this deal was not easy,” he said in a statement. “My Administration worked relentlessly to bring hostages home, get relief to Palestinian civilians, and end the war. I commend President Trump and his team for their work to get a renewed ceasefire deal over the finish line.”
Party luminaries such as former President Barack Obama similarly heralded the breakthrough in the Middle East without mentioning Trump.
Meanwhile, several Biden administration alumni also seemingly tried to take credit for laying a foundation for the milestone.
“It’s good that President Trump adopted and built on the plan the Biden Administration developed,” former Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked on Saturday, a day after Hamas and Israel entered a ceasefire.
“I also commend President Trump for reaffirming the key principles we established for Gaza at the outset of the war.”
Blinken’s partner, former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, similarly argued that “in concept” the deal struck is “pretty similar” to the framework the Biden administration had in mind.
Sullivan had to be prodded by CNN anchor Dana Bash on Sunday to give credit to Trump for the deal.
Trump had received a hero’s welcome during his address to the Israeli Knesset on Monday, where he touted his administration’s peace plan.
Then he trekked over to Egypt to huddle with leaders from over two dozen countries and brainstorm ways to beef up reconstruction efforts for the war-torn Gaza Strip.
The Post reached out to reps for Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders, Jeffries and Biden for comment.
