‘I’m not going to tell you’: Biden flashes huge smile after refusing to give hostage update to reporter

President Joe Biden flashed a giant smile Tuesday after refusing to give a journalist an update on the hostages Hamas is holding in Gaza during its war with Israel.

Biden opened his meeting on progress in combating the flow of fentanyl into the United States by noting that the United States, Israel and Hamas were “very close” to reaching a deal to bring some “hostages home very soon.” The president declined to give further updates on the status of the deal after a reporter pressed the president after the meeting. (RELATED: Biden administration’s own staff turns on president, accusing him of ‘spreading misinformation’: REPORT)

“Mr. President, do you have any idea how many Americans will be released? asked a reporter.

“There is a lot of time to talk about the hostages. Not now. I’m not going to tell you,” Biden said as he smiled widely.

The United States has reportedly brokered a deal between Israel and Hamas to suspend fighting for several days to free Gaza hostages, three current U.S. officials and one former U.S. official with knowledge of the talks said. political. Those involved in the talks hope that an announcement on the agreement will come on Tuesday, although they noted that these types of negotiations could fail, Politico reported.

As of November 14, at least nine Americans were missing following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. When asked to give a message to the families of hostages trapped in Gaza, Biden saying “we were coming.”

“Mr. President, can you directly address the hostages and give them a message of hope and resilience in these difficult times?” a journalist asked the president after his speech on the “climate crisis.”

“Yes, I can. I’ve been talking [inaudible] with people involved every day. “I think it’s going to happen but I don’t want to give any details,” Biden said.

“What is your message to families?” the journalist responded.

“Hang there. Here we go,” Biden said before leaving the room.