Donald Trump has once again stirred controversy with his latest proposal—this time suggesting that the United States should take over the Gaza Strip and resettle all Palestinians living there. Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a White House press conference, Trump described Gaza as a “demolition site” and argued that Palestinians only want to return because they have “no alternative.” His plan, he claimed, would bring “peace and harmony” to the region.
The former president laid out a vision where the U.S. would assume control over Gaza, rebuild it, and create “thousands and thousands of jobs.” He insisted that this move would stabilize the entire Middle East and suggested that Palestinians be relocated to neighboring Arab nations such as Egypt and Jordan. While he did not elaborate on the legal authority he would use to enact such a plan, he did not rule out the possibility of deploying U.S. military forces, saying, “If it’s necessary, we’ll do that.”
Trump’s proposal has been widely condemned, with many critics accusing him of advocating for “ethnic cleansing by another name.” Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen warned that forcibly expelling two million Palestinians would not only violate decades of bipartisan support for a two-state solution but would also fuel tensions with Iran and other adversaries. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called Trump’s plan “a crime against humanity” and argued that it would “destroy what remains of our nation’s international image and standing.”
Despite the backlash, Trump doubled down on his stance, claiming he had “studied this very closely over a lot of months” and that “everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land.” His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, echoed his sentiments, tweeting that America was ready to “Make Gaza Beautiful Again.” However, many see this as an unprecedented and unrealistic move that could further destabilize an already volatile region.
