The White House and America’s top diplomat have pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s suggestions that millions of Palestinians in Gaza could be permanently relocated and that US troops might be deployed to the war-torn enclave.
“The president has made it clear that they need to be temporarily relocated out of Gaza,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing on Wednesday.
She also emphasized that the US would not fund Gaza’s reconstruction and dismissed the possibility of sending American troops.
“It’s been made very clear to the president that the United States needs to be involved in the rebuilding effort to ensure stability in the region,” Leavitt said. “However, that does not mean boots on the ground in Gaza, nor does it mean American taxpayers will be funding this effort.”
Leavitt reiterated that Trump expects regional partners, particularly Egypt and Jordan, to accept Palestinian refugees on a temporary basis until Gaza can be rebuilt.
“It’s a demolition site right now,” she said. “It’s not a livable place for any human being.”
Her comments directly contradicted Trump’s remarks on Tuesday night, in which he suggested that Palestinians could be permanently resettled elsewhere. “If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people permanently, in nice homes where they can be happy and not be shot, not be killed, and not be knifed to death like what’s happening in Gaza,” he said.
On Wednesday morning, Trump doubled down on his controversial idea for the US to take control of Gaza and turn it into a tourist destination—despite widespread rejection from Palestinian leaders, Middle Eastern governments, and the international community.
“Everybody loves it,” Trump claimed when asked about the reaction to his proposal. He then cut off further questions, saying it was “not the right time” as he was overseeing the swearing-in of new US Attorney General Pam Bondi.
