Democrats are giving President Donald Trump rare credit for brokering the agreement that set the stage for ending the war in Gaza, with several top lawmakers calling it his achievement as the release of remaining hostages nears. 

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) said Trump “should get a lot of credit,” calling it “his deal” and praising the president for sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to negotiate the agreement that halted months of bloodshed in an appearance on CNN on Sunday.

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Kelly said he expects the remaining hostages to be freed by Monday and urged regional powers like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to follow through on commitments to fund Gaza’s reconstruction, noting that “90% of the homes have been destroyed” in what he described as a “tragic, tragic situation.” 

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Former national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who served under President Joe Biden, struck a similar tone in his appearance on CNN, saying, “Of course he does” when asked if Trump deserves credit for the deal. “I give credit to President Trump. I give credit to Witkoff and Kushner and Rubio,” he added, referring to the team of negotiators who helped finalize the agreement. 

Sullivan called the outcome the product of “determination and really hard work” but cautioned that lasting peace will depend on whether the Trump administration can keep the ceasefire in place and pursue a “credible pathway to a Palestinian state.”

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, congratulated negotiators and maintained that “there’s no politics about this moment” as the first hostages are set to come home. 

But Murphy faulted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for delaying the deal, arguing it “has been on the table for over a year” and that Netanyahu’s “political considerations” had “frustrated the ability to find peace and to get the hostages home far before today.” He added that the Biden administration had been reluctant to put similar pressure on Israel, saying Netanyahu “is only going to move if he thinks that his relationship with the United States is at risk.” 

Other Democrats praised the outcome without mentioning Trump’s involvement at all. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, released a statement Wednesday commending the progress but omitting any reference to Trump or his envoys. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Armed Services Committee, likewise avoided naming him, calling the agreement a “victory” and saying she was “grateful” for the administration’s efforts. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) struck a similar note, applauding “the American leadership that made this deal possible” without specifying whose leadership that was.

The mixed responses from Democrats underscore the political tightrope many in the party are walking as they react to what could be a major diplomatic breakthrough by a president they have spent years criticizing. The Gaza conflict has exposed deep divisions within Democratic ranks, complicating how lawmakers talk about Israel and U.S. policy in the region. 

Offering praise to Trump risks backlash from progressives who have condemned Israel’s actions and pushed for a harder line against its government, while sidestepping his role entirely avoids the uncomfortable optics of crediting a political rival whose approach to foreign policy they have long rejected.

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Under the U.S.-brokered agreement, Israel and Hamas have begun a phased ceasefire that includes the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, with the first group of captives expected to go free Monday. Israel has also pledged to allow about 600 aid trucks a day into Gaza to restore humanitarian deliveries after months of blockade, while gradually pulling back its forces as talks continue on Gaza’s future governance and security, with regional partners expected to lead reconstruction efforts.

Twenty hostages believed to be alive in Gaza are expected to be released early Monday morning local time before being transferred to the Red Cross, according to an Israeli government spokesperson. Nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israel will also be freed as part of the exchange.