President Donald Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on Tuesday, marking the first visit from a foreign leader during Trump’s second term. The meeting took place amid ongoing tensions in the region, particularly related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. During a joint press conference, Trump and Netanyahu discussed the strengthening of U.S.-Israel ties and outlined ambitious plans for the Gaza Strip.
In a surprising announcement, Trump stated that the United States would assume control over the Gaza Strip, aiming for a "long-term ownership position" to ensure stability in the area. "The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too," Trump declared, emphasizing the need to dismantle unexploded bombs and other weapons in the region.
Despite the bold claim, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that Trump would not commit to deploying U.S. troops to Gaza as part of the rebuilding initiative. Leavitt stressed that while the U.S. must be involved in the reconstruction efforts, it does not entail American soldiers on the ground or taxpayer funding for the project. Instead, she indicated that Trump would negotiate a deal with regional partners to facilitate the rebuilding.
The announcement was met with immediate backlash from various quarters, including Democratic lawmakers and Hamas leaders. A senior official from Hamas condemned Trump’s remarks, calling the intention to control Gaza a "crime against humanity."
In addition to the Gaza plans, Trump reaffirmed his administration’s "maximum pressure" strategy against Iran, instructing the Treasury Department to enforce severe economic sanctions aimed at crippling Iran’s oil exports. Trump expressed concern that Iran is nearing the capability to develop a nuclear weapon and vowed to prevent Tehran from acquiring such a threat.
Furthermore, Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) following its issuance of an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. This order includes financial penalties and visa restrictions on ICC officials involved in investigations against U.S. citizens and allies. The White House argues that the ICC threatens U.S. sovereignty and has unfairly targeted Israel.
On the domestic front, Trump’s administration is also working on establishing a sovereign wealth fund, which could potentially be used to finance the purchase of TikTok. The fund aims to create value and strategic importance, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
As the Trump administration embarks on these ambitious foreign and domestic initiatives, the implications for U.S. foreign policy and regional stability remain to be seen, with critics raising concerns about the potential consequences of such a bold approach.