Trump Discusses Plans for Gaza Strip Ownership in Exclusive Interview
President Donald Trump reflected on his initial weeks back in office in a wide-ranging interview with Fox News' Bret Baier, where he discussed various topics including efforts to stop government fraud, tariffs, and collaboration with Elon Musk.
During the interview, Trump reiterated his vision for the United States to achieve a "long-term ownership position" in the Gaza Strip in the future. He claimed that "great people" in the Middle East could potentially finance the reconstruction of the war-torn area following the conflict with Hamas, which began after a surprise attack on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties and more than 250 hostages taken.
When questioned about the rights of Palestinians to return to Gaza, Trump stated that they would not return because they would have "much better housing." He emphasized his intent to construct a permanent living space for them.
Central to Trump's proposal for U.S. control over the Gaza Strip is the idea of relocating Palestinians to neighboring countries during the reconstruction period, an approach that has faced flat rejection from two U.S. Middle Eastern allies.
King Abdullah II of Jordan is anticipated to discuss this proposal during his upcoming meeting with Trump at the White House. Additionally, Egypt is set to host an emergency Arab summit in Cairo to address new developments concerning the Palestinian issue.
Trump expressed confidence in his ability to make deals with Egypt and Jordan, citing substantial U.S. aid as leverage. He was quoted saying, "There's practically no building that's livable in the whole Gaza Strip. I say we go in, we knock them all down. We just create some -- no more Hamas. There's no Hamas there."
He visualized building "beautiful communities" for the 1.9 million inhabitants of Gaza, framing it as a real estate development opportunity for the future, emphasizing safety and quality of living.
