Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2023

November 23, 2023

Hostages Held by Hamas in Gaza, Palestinian Territories

Q. Mr. President, are you hopeful for the hostages to get out of theâreleased?

The President. I think I'll haveâI think I'll be able to talk to you guys tomorrow.

Q. Tomorrow?

Negotiated Deal for Hostage Release

Q. Any update today, sir?

The President. I'm not prepared to give you an update until it's done.

Hostages Held by Hamas in Gaza, Palestinian Territories

Q. Are you expecting the little 3-year-old girl to be among the hostages released, Mr. President?

The President. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

2024 Presidential Election

Q. What did you think of the Dutch election? The President. I'm focusing on this election. The First Lady. Happy Thanksgiving!

The President. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

Q. Happy Thanksgiving!

U.S. Citizens Held Hostage or Detained Overseas

Q. Mr. President, on this holidayâfamily holiday, what's your message to those who can't be with their families, like Paul and Evan being held in Russia?

The President. I didn't hear the last part of your question.

Q. What's your message to hostages, like Paul and Evan in Russia, who can't be with their families on this holiday?

The President. We ain't giving up. We're going to keep going until we get them. Thank you.

Q. Thank you.

NOTE: The President spoke at 11:58 a.m. outside the Nantucket Fire Station. In his remarks, he referred to Paul N. Whelan, a U.S. citizen who was arrested and held on espionage charges by Russian security services in Moscow, Russia, on December 28, 2018; and Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested by Russian authorities on March 29. A reporter referred to Abigail Mor Edan, an Israeli-American child expected to be included among the hostages released from captivity in Gaza, Palestinian Territories, in exchange for Palestinians jailed in Israel, as part of the deal negotiated with Hamas. The transcript was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on November 24.

Categories: Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters, Nantucket, MA. Locations: Nantucket, MA.

Names: Gershkovich, Evan; Whelan, Paul N.

Subjects: 2024 Presidential election; Gaza, hostages held by Hamas; Hostages and U.S. nationals detained overseas, repatriation efforts; News media, Presidential interviews.

DCPD Number: DCPD202301050.