Former Vice President Kamala Harris issued a public statement on October 13 acknowledging the reunification of 20 Israeli hostages and the new Gaza ceasefire—but conspicuously avoided mentioning Donald Trump by name. Instead, she credited efforts to “the President and his team,” positioning the deal more as a bipartisan achievement than as Trump’s singular success.
Her statement opened with gratitude: “I am thankful and deeply encouraged that this ceasefire has brought long-awaited moments of joy and reunion — as 20 Israeli hostages are finally reunited with their loved ones…” She attributed progress to “diplomacy and persistence” and saluted all partners who participated in making the agreement possible.
That phrasing contrasts sharply with other Democrats’ reactions. Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) launched a scathing critique, calling Trump’s peace messaging “diabolical.” Yet Harris’s tone landed somewhere between partisan critique and cautious concession.
President Trump framed the deal differently. In remarks on Monday, he heralded the moment as an answer to global prayer: “With the historic agreement we’ve just signed … the hostages have been returned.” He painted the deal as a turning point. “After years of suffering and bloodshed, the war in Gaza is over,” he said, citing the inflow of humanitarian aid and the weakening of violent extremist forces in the region.
Harris’s refusal to name Trump may reflect broader political positioning. It allows her to appear supportive of peace without endorsing Trump personally—especially important in a divided party. But the omission did not go unnoticed. Trump’s supporters and critics alike observed that avoiding his name constitutes a rhetorical slight, even amid acknowledgment of the diplomatic breakthrough.
