CNN's Jake Tapper presses Biden's NatSec adviser on 'priority' of American hostages held by Hamas

CNN's Jake Tapper pressed President Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, about whether hostages taken by Hamas were a "priority" for the Biden administration on Sunday.

"Is rescuing the hostages a priority at all? Israeli news media like Haaretz, they say it doesn’t seem like it at all," Tapper asked. "And frankly, Jake, if my kids were being held hostage in Gaza, and as you know, there are Americans being held hostage in Gaza right now, I'd want you to send in the Navy SEALs. What’s the conversation like in the White House about the U.S. conducting any sort of operations in order to save Americans being held hostage in Gaza?"

Sullivan responded and said Biden has been clear about wanting to get Americans back to the U.S. safely.

"The Israelis are bombing the crap out of Gaza, I mean, it doesn’t seem like saving the hostages are a priority at all right now," Tapper asserted.

"Well, for President Biden, they are a priority. They’re the highest possible priority. And he has sent hostage experts to coordinate and consult with the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts. He’s also made sure that our diplomats are in touch with third countries in the region to explore avenues for their safe release. I have to be cautious about how much I can say about certain efforts he’s undertaking, because we want to protect those efforts to give us the best possible chance of getting our people home," Sullivan responded.

He added that the U.S. does not currently know the locations of the American hostages.