There was some consensus achieved among the panelists on CNN NewsNight late Tuesday, in light of progress made in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
With signs pointing towards a possible resolution to the 15-month conflict, host Abby Phillip expressed her view that Donald Trump, despite not assuming the presidency yet, played an essential role in the peace talks.
Republican commentator Scott Jennings, who frequently found himself at odds with Phillip on air, concurred, highlighting Trump’s directness in discussing a potential course of action in addressing the ongoing hostage crisis in contrast to his Democratic rival.
Hours later, Joe Biden would emerge from the Oval Office to confirm the ceasefire, revealing its terms and the fact it will last 42 days so that all American hostages can be safely returned to the US.
The outgoing president said he introduced the agreement in the spring, while Trump, on social media, hinted at the still-being solidified deal two hours earlier.
In the months before, the president-elect repeatedly promised peace in the Middle East and an ‘America First’ approach to foreign policy. He never offered specifics, but broached the subject with his trademark rhetoric and bravado.
‘I’m not going to start a war. I’m going to stop wars,’ he said during his victory speech in November, as Biden maintained support of Israel in its fight against Hamas, with some concessions and caveats.
Phillip and Jennings both credited Trump’s more firm stance on the subject for the temporary solution, which will see seven Americans, ranging in age from 19 to 73, released for good.
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‘I do think that all sides agree that Trump’s candidness has made a difference, one way or another,’ Phillip began by saying.
‘Yeah, they do not want to deal with Trump,’ Jennings, who over the past year has surfaced as CNN’s resident Republican, replied,
‘He’s been perfectly clear that he’s not vacillated about his message,’ he continued, before explaining his rationale.
‘[He’s been clear] that if they don’t send our people back, there’s going to be hell to pay,’ he said, leading Phillips and several other panelists to nod their head as if to agree.
‘Thank god he has been on that message, and has not wavered from it, has not stepped back from it. And I don’t really care – candidly – who the president is, when all this happens.
‘I just want them back,’ Jennings continued, proudly displaying his yellow ribbon – something that’s emerged as the international symbol of hope for all hostage’s safe return – on his chest.
‘I’ve worn this yellow ribbon for over a year because I think there’s just so many families who have been devastated – they’re hurting,’ Jennings explained.
‘They don’t know what the situation is,’ he added. ‘We need to have this come to an end or America’s involved here.’
The conservative went on to concede that the country ‘[may] end up paying a heavy price with this deal,’ saying ‘some terrorists are probably going to be let out of jails.
‘I don’t particularly like that,’ Jennings said. ‘But to settle this, and to get peace, and to get our people back, I think it took Trump winning the election, and being clear-eyed about it, to make it happen.’
At another point in talks, the prominent political strategist offered more insight behind his reasoning.
Speaking from the perspective of members of Hamas and other terror groups, he declared, ‘What you have witnessed is the Biden Administration… at various points, put[ting] shackles on Israel.
‘You can say they’ve been strong on it,’ he quickly disclaimed. ‘But they’ve tried to put rhetorical and military shackles on Israel.
‘There is no expectation that Trump would put shackles on anybody,’ he continued, pointing to the president-elect’s more transparent approach to peace talks.
‘And there is some expectation that he will get involved himself, if they don’t send our people back,’ he added, still speaking from terrorists’ perspective.
‘I do think this is the essential element of getting this over the fence.’
Toward the end of the conversation, the station’s senior political commentator offered one last jab at Biden – perhaps the last as his presidency comes to a close.
‘A great nation, a superpower, does not permit its people to be held and treated like this for as long as they have,’ he told onlookers.
‘I don’t think Donald Trump wants to be taking over a country if it was willing to permit that kind of behavior by these thugs and terrorists.
‘I think that’s why he was “clear-eyed” in his statements, and I think that’s why they responded.’
The following day, Biden’s own State Department issued a statement – one confirming that Trump’s team played a pivotal part in the since-settled agreement.
‘When it comes to the involvement of President-elect Trump’s team, it has been absolutely critical in getting this deal over the line,’ spokesperson Matthew Miller said at the White House Wednesday afternoon..
‘We, of course, thank the Trump team.’
Trump, too, touted his own accomplishments on Truth Social a few hours earlier, telling followers, ‘We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!’
Biden, however, appeared hesitant to offer up any credit a little later in the day, telling a reporter who asked whether Trump played a part during his own address ‘Is that a joke.’
When told no, Biden said ‘oh’ and walked out of the press conference.
