Iran Hostage Crisis. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army.
THE GATEWAY PUNDIT | Published January 16, 2025
In a turn of events reminiscent of the 1980 Iranian hostage crisis, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement that includes the release of American hostages—just days before President Trump’s inauguration, cementing his image as “The Second Ronald Reagan.”
President Trump issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating that “all hell will break out” if the hostages are not released. Incoming National Security Advisor Rep. Mike Waltz reinforced this stance, declaring, “There are gonna be consequences to those who think they can take an American.” Vice President JD Vance was vindicated in his prediction that the hostages would be released, as he had asserted, “People are terrified that there’re going to be consequences for Hamas.”
While some Democrats and liberal media outlets claim that Trump is a threat to national security, the reality is that he has already made the world safer. Having a president who can sit down with world leaders like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, or secure a historic first meeting with Kim Jong Un, is undeniably better for national security than having a dithering, disconnected leader who struggles to command respect or instill fear on the global stage.
Biden actually believes he is “handing Trump a real opportunity for a better Middle East,” ignoring the fact that it was his weak leadership that allowed the Israel-Hamas war to break out, Hezbollah to rise up, Iran to brazenly instigate and support the Houthis attacking ships in the Red Sea, and oil prices to skyrocket. Rather than handing Trump an opportunity, he is handing Trump a world on fire, with wars in Ukraine and Syria raging and ISIS reemerging.
Some media are debating whether Trump or Biden should get credit for the release, with Biden claiming that the current ceasefire framework is the one he proposed last spring. If Biden really had this idea months ago, it only highlights his weak leadership and inability to get other countries to follow his lead. Biden taking credit for the deal sounds more like an attempt to cash in and secure his legacy—just as he has been doing lately with the economy. Over the past few days, he and his team have flooded Twitter and other social media with distorted claims about job gains, inflation reduction, and the “greatest economy in history.” However, every one of his core economic claims has been proven to be a misrepresentation of the facts.
The so-called Inflation Reduction Act included hundreds of billions of dollars in money printing, spending, and free handouts—all of which worsened inflation. The American people know that eggs aren’t supposed to cost $8, yet Biden wants to be thanked. He claims to have expanded Social Security to help the common man, but the bulk of the expansion benefits government employees.
Democrats constantly criticize tax incentives given to companies to expand, build new businesses, and hire more workers, yet they applaud a president who hands out free money or increases the size of the government payroll—actions that create the illusion of growth without addressing real economic issues. Meanwhile, Americans are living with the reality: prices are up, wages aren’t keeping pace, and good jobs are becoming harder to find. One thing Democrats and Republicans can agree on is this: it’s all because of Biden.
Americans also know that 45% of new jobs shouldn’t be part-time, and the majority of full-time jobs created by the president shouldn’t be government positions. The Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity (LISEP) has exposed the reality behind the Biden administration’s claims. LISEP found that, when focusing on everyday items like food, the effective inflation rate is 9.4%—double the White House’s official figure. Their latest True Rate of Unemployment (TRU) report reveals that the functional unemployment rate in the United States is over 23.9%, far higher than the official 4.2%. This measure includes underemployed and discouraged workers, confirming what most Americans already know: the Biden economy is a disaster, and White House data is meaningless.
Under Biden’s leadership, 98 hostages remain in Gaza, with around 60 believed to still be alive. The deal he touts as a success gives Hamas a 42-day window to recover, resupply, and prepare for future conflict, all while releasing hostages at a slow pace. As part of the agreement, 33 hostages—prioritizing women and children—will be freed at a rate of at least three per week. In exchange, the IDF will gradually withdraw from central Gaza, allowing displaced persons to return to the north. For every civilian hostage released, 30 terrorists will be freed, and for each female soldier, 50 will be exchanged. Negotiations for the next phase of this deal are scheduled to begin by the 16th day.
The deal is sickening, as all hostages should have been unconditionally released over a year ago. However, the “Trump Effect” ensures that American hostages will be released in the first phase of the agreement.
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SOURCE: www.thegatewaypundit.com
RELATED: Will Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal Give Trump Inauguration Boost Like Reagan?
President-elect Donald Trump speaks to members of the media during a press conference at the Mar-a-Lago Club on January 07, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, making him the only president other than Grover Cleveland to serve two non-consecutive terms in office, (L). President Ronald Reagan sitting at desk in the Oval Office of the White House after addressing the nation, re Iran-Contra affair (R).
NEWSWEEK | Published January 16, 2025
Just days before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, a ceasefire deal has finally been agreed between Israel and Hamas that, if it holds, will see the release of hostages captured during the militant group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Some observers are comparing the situation to the 1981 release of 52 American hostages from Iran, which happened on the day President Ronald Reagan was inaugurated.
President Jimmy Carter faced significant challenges in securing the release of hostages during the 444-day Iran hostage crisis, and their release is seen as a key moment that boosted Reagan’s reputation as a strong leader.
President-elect Donald Trump has taken a strong stance on securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. He has warned Hamas of serious repercussions if the hostages are not freed before his January 20 inauguration.
Newsweek has sought insights from experts to analyze the potential impact of the hostages’ release on Trump’s inauguration day. Could such a resolution mirror Reagan’s boost in public opinion in 1981, helping to reshape Trump’s image as a popular leader?
Yes, Trump could get a Reagan-like boost in support if there is a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian hostage crisis.
If so, it would simply be one more reminder of the ways that U.S. and international politics are reverting to a 1980s political and economic conservatism.
Trump giving a shove toward a ceasefire bears little resemblance to Reagan’s mythic role in ending the Cold War. Israel’s war on Palestine is far from over. An exchange of hostages and a ceasefire do little to address the underlying causes of conflict.
Donald Trump has not shown the sense of justice—or the daring—to do what’s needed to extricate the United States from its self-destructive attachments.
Yet, if Trump’s role in an advance to peace is a sign of his willingness to draw the United States back from its addiction to forever wars and ill-advised interventions, it would be welcomed by most in the United States and would set the foundation for bipartisan collaborations on at least one front.
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SOURCE: www.newsweek.com
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