Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer commended President Donald Trump on Monday for brokering the Middle East peace deal to end the Israel-Hamas war and release the 20 living Israeli hostages held by the terrorist group.
Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected lawmaker, now joins fellow Democrats such as Bill and Hillary Clinton in crediting Trump and his administration for organizing the peace agreement. The statement comes just hours after Speaker of the House Mike Johnson bashed Congressional Democrats for being “strangely silent” on the peace negotiation and refusing to accredit Trump for securing the hostage deal.
“Today is a wonderful day. Finally, finally, finally, the last living hostages brutally held by Hamas are home, an immense and overwhelming sign of relief,” Schumer wrote in a statement. “I commend the enormous advocacy of the tireless hostage families, President Trump, his administration, and all who helped make this moment happen.”
Schumer highlighted the celebration of the hostages’ homecoming as well as those who lost their lives before returning home. He advocated for a “lasting end” to the war and stressed the immediate rebuilding of Gaza and a “surge of humanitarian assistance” to Palestinians in the region.
Multiple Democrats have excluded Trump from their statements praising the peace deal, prompting harsh criticism from Johnson. One of the most prominent Democrats to do so, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, gave no mention to Trump in his Monday X post commenting on the return of the hostages.
Schumer had initially avoided mentioning Trump during his Wednesday remarks on phase one of the ceasefire deal.
Trump addressed the Israeli Parliament Monday morning where he expressed gratitude “for all of the nations of the Arab and Muslim world that came together to press Hamas.” The president then flew to Egypt where he officially signed the peace agreement alongside world leaders from Qatar, Turkey and Egypt.
“It is with utmost importance that every party involved pursue the opportunity to finally build a lasting peace ultimately through a realized two-state solution that ensures security, prosperity and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” Schumer said in his statement.
Schumer’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
