The Biden administration informed Donald Trump’s incoming team about its efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, achieved early Wednesday, according to the outgoing administration.
Trump’s team swiftly claimed credit for this development, a rare positive event for the Biden administration amidst the ongoing Middle East conflict.
“The negotiations are happening because of President Trump,” stated Florida Representative Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security advisor nominee, on Tuesday, shortly before Israel’s cabinet approved the agreement. “His decisive victory signaled to the world that instability will not be tolerated. I welcome these de-escalatory steps in the Middle East.”
The reported collaboration between the Biden and Trump teams on the Lebanon ceasefire represents a notable example of cooperation during a sometimes-turbulent transition.
Trump’s transition team finalized an agreement on Tuesday with President Biden’s White House, enabling transition staff to coordinate with the federal workforce before Trump’s inauguration on January 20th. High-level coordination has occurred between the outgoing and incoming administrations, including discussions between Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, and Waltz.
In a Rose Garden address on Tuesday, Biden lauded the ceasefire as a crucial step, expressing hope for broader Middle East peace after nearly 14 months of war following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
“This is intended as a permanent cessation of hostilities,” Biden declared. “Any remaining Hezbollah and other terrorist groups will not—I emphasize, will not—be permitted to threaten Israel’s security again.”
White House officials are optimistic that calmer conditions in Lebanon will revitalize multinational efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict, where Hamas still holds hostages and the situation remains complex.
Biden stated that the U.S., along with Israel, will engage in discussions with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish officials to resume Gaza peace talks.
However, amidst Biden’s success in a conflict that has impacted his domestic and international standing, the incoming Trump administration’s influence was prominent.
Trump’s senior national security team received briefings from the Biden administration throughout the negotiations, concluding on Tuesday, according to a senior Biden administration official. This official, briefing reporters anonymously, stated that while the incoming Trump team wasn’t directly involved, it was crucial they understood “the negotiations and commitments.”
Trump’s team and allies asserted that the prospect of a Republican presidential return significantly influenced both sides to reach an agreement.
Waltz, in addition to crediting Trump, issued a warning to Iran, Hezbollah’s primary financial supporter.
“But let’s be clear: The Iranian regime is the root cause of the chaos and terror in the region. We won’t tolerate their continued support for terrorism,” Waltz stated.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, also acknowledged the incoming administration while commending Biden’s team.
“I appreciate the Biden Administration’s hard work, supported by President Trump, in achieving this ceasefire,” Graham said in a statement.
Richard Goldberg, a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that Iran—which he believes would have needed to approve Hezbollah’s agreement—is carefully assessing the implications of Trump’s return.
“There’s no doubt Iran is regrouping before Trump takes office,” said Goldberg, a National Security Council official during Trump’s first term. “It’s a combination of Israeli military success and Trump’s election—the ayatollah’s position is untenable, and he knows it.”
The Biden White House also maintains hope that the Lebanon ceasefire could facilitate a long-sought Israel-Saudi normalization deal.
The official indicated substantial progress toward such an agreement, stating that “the situation in Gaza is hindering our progress.”
Biden mentioned that his administration was close to reaching a deal between these two key Middle Eastern powers before the Hamas attack disrupted regional stability. He speculated that this potential normalization agreement contributed to Hamas’ timing of the attack.
Weeks before the attack, the Israeli Prime Minister sat with Biden at the UN General Assembly, noting that a “historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia” seemed imminent—a diplomatic achievement potentially leading to lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace.
The normalization effort, initiated during Trump’s first term and known as the Abraham Accords, aims to reshape the region and enhance Israel’s standing.
The Biden White House intends to keep the incoming Trump administration informed of its efforts and stated that “anything we do…we won’t do without their knowledge,” said the Biden administration official.
—Aamer Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Fatima Hussein in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Zeke Miller and Chris Megerian contributed reporting.