Does Donald Trump Really Want The Gaza Strip?

In a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump said that “the U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip.” Once redeveloped and under an American flag, he added, it could become “the Riviera of the Middle East.”

“We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Trump said during a joint press conference with the Israeli leader. “Level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings. Level it out, create an economic development.”

Trump has long argued that neighboring countries should take in Gazan refugees whose lives have been destroyed by the Israel-Hamas war. His latest suggestion comes amidst a tenuous ceasefire and after the terrorist organization released dozens of hostages.

Asked if there would be American soldiers in Gaza, Trump replied, “If it’s necessary, we will do that.” These comments were met with skepticism from many in Donald Trump’s base, who do not want America involved in conflict areas abroad.

If the US were to follow through with plans to take control of the Gaza strip, and possibly have American troops in the area, it would be quite a turnaround from Donald Trump’s calls to pull the US back.

But it is likely that these statements from the President are negotiating techniques. Just as True threatened harsh tariffs, only to get the countries he threatened to agree to a deal, his statement about the US taking control of Gaza is probably the opening step to getting a more favorable situation in the region, whether it is with concessions from Hamas, or nations like Egypt and Jordan taking in refugees from Gaza.

With Donald Trump, nothing can be taken off the table. But one should remember that with the President’s words are just one of many things to take into consideration when analyzing what he wants.