'Is that a joke?' Biden gives snarky response to reporter’s question during press conference

15 January

President Joe Biden couldn't help but ridicule a reporter's question at the end of a recent press conference.

Biden on Wednesday announced the conclusion of months-long ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas that he helped broker with Qatar and Egypt, in which a temporary ceasefire in Gaza is due to take effect on Sunday. Hamas has agreed to return dozens of Israeli hostages held captive since its October 7, 2023 attack, including seven U.S. citizens. This would mark an end to the fighting that has raged for nearly 450 days, which has resulted in 46,707 Palestinian deaths (including more than 18,000 children) according to Al Jazeera.

"This is the exact framework of the deal I proposed back in May," Biden said. "Secondly, it's America's support for Israel that helped them badly weaken Hamas and its backers and create the conditions for this deal. And thirdly, I knew this deal would have to be implemented by the next team. So I told my team to coordinate closely with the incoming team to make sure we're all speaking with the same voice, because that's what American presidents do."

However, President-elect Donald Trump is also claiming credit for the deal. The Washington Post reported that one unnamed diplomat credited the progress of the talks to Trump's influence as the incoming president, saying it was "the first time there has been real pressure on the Israeli side to accept a deal."

"This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.

But when one reporter asked Biden directly at the end of his press conference if Trump deserved credit for the deal, the outgoing president offered a pithy response as he walked away.

"Is that a joke?" Biden said. "Oh."

Watch the video of the exchange below, or by clicking this link.

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