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President Donald Trump said during a news conference with Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that the United States wants to "take over" the Gaza Strip, drawing backlash from some lawmakers and praise from others.

Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for additional comment.

The Context

Trump's comments will likely complicate a tenuous ceasefire deal between the Israeli government andHamas as Israel works to secure release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza.

The region has been decimated and tens of thousands of people—including the elderly, women and children—have been killed since Israel launched a counteroffensive against Hamas in response to the militant group's attack on October 7, 2023.

What To Know

Trump made his comments while addressing reporters after meeting with Netanyahu at the White House.

"The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too," he said. "We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and all of the other weapons on the site."

Trump refused to rule out the possibility of sending troops to the embattled region.

"As far as Gaza is concerned, we'll do what is necessary, if it's necessary we'll do that," he said. "We're going to take over that piece and develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it'll be something that the entire Middle East can be proud of."

The president did not elaborate on what legal framework grants him the authority to push out the roughly 1.8 million Palestinians remaining in Gaza.

Trump has also said he believes Egypt and Jordan will agree to take in Palestinians, a suggestion both countries dismissed last week while warning that moving Palestinians out of Gaza would undermine America's longtime push for a two-state solution.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League also backed Egypt and Jordan in their rejection of Trump's proposal.

The president's comments during Tuesday evening's news conference sparked immediate backlash fromDemocrats, as well as someRepublicans, while drawing praise from other conservatives.

The meeting with Netanyahu came hours after the two leaders addressed reporters from the Oval Office, where Trump spoke of Saudi Arabia potentially normalizing ties with Israel, claiming Riyadh is no longer demanding an independent Palestinian state. "No, they're not," Trump told reporters.

Saudi Arabia rejected Trump's comment, saying in a statement Tuesday evening: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that the position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the establishment of the Palestinian state is a firm, unwavering position, and His Highness ... has affirmed this position in a clear and explicit manner that does not allow for any interpretation under any circumstances."

What People Are Saying

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy posted on X:"He's totally lost it. A U.S. invasion of Gaza would lead to the slaughter of thousands of U.S. troops and decades of war in the Middle East. It's like a bad, sick joke."

Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California also excoriated Trump on X, saying: "Wait what? The U.S. is going to occupy Gaza? We were promised no more endless wars. By my count we are occupying Greenland, Canada, Panama Canal, and now..Gaza?"

Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona said on X: "Trump wants to invade Panama, Greenland and now Gaza. Trump is a warmonger."

Trump's comments prompted trepidation even among some members of his own party, including South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, whotold a reporter:"I think that would be an interesting proposal. We'll see what our Arab friends say about that. I think most South Carolinians would probably not be excited about sending Americans to take over Gaza. It might be problematic."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations released a sharply-worded statement condemning Trump's remarks, saying in part:"President Trump's call to displace Palestinians from their land either temporarily or permanently is an absolute non-starter."

Republican Representative Nancy Mace, a staunch Trump loyalist, backed his comments, writing on X:"Let's turn Gaza into Mar-A-Lago."

Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger, a Tennessee Republican, praised Trump's comments, writing on X: "This is what the leader of the free world looks like, folks. President Trump campaigned on securing peace in Gaza, and he's doing just that. Promises made, promises kept — it'll never get old."

Conservative Attorney Marina Medvin said on X: "Trump wants America to take over Gaza. That's the best idea. We need a good base in the Middle East to call our own and this is beachfront property. Yes, we should do it."