Staff Reports
The recent hostage deal negotiated in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict has revealed a new narrative about who is really calling the shots in U.S. foreign policy. The Biden administration initially toyed with the notion that they steered this ship through stormy waters for the better part of 16 months. But as the dust begins to settle, it turns out that the incoming Trump administration, under the leadership of new Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff, played a vital role in bringing this deal home just before Trump’s inauguration. How about that for a plot twist?
The deal itself has been structured in three shiny stages, which include the release of 33 hostages—mostly women and children, because what’s a good hostage release without some sympathetic faces?—and an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza. While Biden’s team crowed about their supposed groundwork for securing peace, the reality is more akin to the closing act of a magician’s trick, with Trump appearing out of a puff of smoke to deliver the finale. It is hard to ignore that Witkoff’s recent diplomatic finesse made all the difference in the hostage release effort, lighting a fire under negotiations that had long been reduced to wet cardboard.
Hostage deal was months-old Biden plan, but new Trump envoy Witkoff was a closer https://t.co/Ph9zp2bRJM
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) January 20, 2025
Despite Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer’s best efforts to throw the Biden team a bone by claiming they were “in the driver’s seat,” the turning point came as Trump openly vowed to make significant demands regarding the hostages long before his inauguration. Trump’s threats, delivered through his favored platform Truth Social, sounded more like the commands of a man who has dealt with bad actors before—in business and in politics. This bold approach appears to have rattled certain cages, particularly those belonging to Israeli leadership, who were reminded that messing around with a Trump-led U.S. is akin to poking a bear with a stick.
Witkoff’s involvement in Qatar displays a strong contrast with the previous administration’s more passive, “nice guy” approach to international relations. With a seasoned reputation as a real-estate mogul, Witkoff is not one to tiptoe around sensitive issues. He was able to deliver a stern message on Trump’s behalf, marking a drastic shift in negotiating strategy. The incoming officials exhibited the political equivalent of showing up with a sledgehammer to a tea party; sometimes, that’s what’s needed to get results when the stakes are high.
While humanitarian needs are paramount—and everyone can agree that stopping bombs from falling is a plus—the importance of a strong U.S. presence in the Middle East is irrefutable. The three-stage plan may seem noble, but there are looming clouds on the horizon. As the U.S. sits out the rebuilding of Gaza, there is anxiously cautious anticipation regarding whether this ceasefire will hold. Cries for food and medical care may ease the current tension, but if history teaches anything, it is that the peace process is as volatile as a two-dollar firework on the Fourth of July. If the deal doesn’t hold up under pressure, it’ll be the Trump team—led by Witkoff—that will need to step up to the plate.
As the spotlight shifts onto the Trump administration, the focus now becomes maintaining a delicate balance in the Middle East. The odds may not be in their favor, but with Trump’s brash style and the willingness to shake things up, it seems clear who may have the upper hand moving forward. So while Biden’s administration may want to graciously pat themselves on the back for their efforts, the ultimate question remains: Who is really running the show? The answer, it appears, may be the one waiting in the wings, ready to re-enter the fray with a firm hand and, dare it be said, a bit of swagger.
