President Donald Trump has put forward a controversial proposal for post-war Gaza, suggesting U.S. involvement in rebuilding the region following the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this month, Trump stated, “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too.”
The proposal has drawn criticism from both international leaders and U.S. lawmakers, with concerns that it could lead to the forced displacement of Gaza’s two million residents.
Middle East policy expert Aaron David Miller, who has advised multiple administrations, described the immediate response among global leaders as “revulsion.”
Despite the backlash, Trump appeared [1] to double down on his vision late Tuesday night, posting a 35-second video on Truth Social titled Gaza 2025: What’s Next?. The video, which appears to be AI-generated, showcases an imagined future of Gaza with beachfront resorts, a Trump hotel, a golden statue of Trump, and Elon Musk handing out cash to tourists. It also depicts Trump dancing with a belly dancer and having drinks with Netanyahu.
JUST IN: President Trump shares a video of an AI vision for the Gaza Strip, ends with Trump having drinks at a pool with Benjamin Netanyahu.
The video also features bearded men in bikini tops.
Nothing could have prepared me for this. pic.twitter.com/1tO19aFN2t [2]
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 26, 2025 [3]
The video has sparked a wave of reactions online, with some calling it “absolutely horrifying” and others urging people to take Trump’s plan seriously.
While Trump’s vision for Gaza has been met with international criticism, some Palestinians inside Gaza have expressed a willingness to leave.
In an interview with The Center for Peace Communications, a man near Gaza’s coastline stated, “I won’t stay in Gaza because there will be disease and our situation will be miserable.”
Another man standing among the rubble said, “If I leave this country today, I’ll be better off… You want to put me in this rubble and tell me to live here?”
Other Palestinians echoed similar sentiments, describing the living conditions as “unbearable” due to the destruction of infrastructure, lack of water, and electricity shortages.
One resident stated, “Even dogs can’t live in the north.”
The release of the video comes as Trump’s top Middle East advisor, Steve Witkoff, engages in phase two of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Witkoff stated that one priority of the negotiations is ensuring the removal of Hamas from Gaza.
When asked where Hamas would go, he responded, “The devil is in the details,” but confirmed that discussions are ongoing.
Netanyahu has praised Trump’s proposal, calling it “remarkable” and stating that it should be explored further.
“They can leave, they can then come back. They can relocate and come back,” Netanyahu said, without specifying details.
Meanwhile, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified Trump’s remarks, stating that U.S. soldiers would not be involved and that any resettlement of Palestinians would be temporary during the rebuilding process.
She also emphasized that U.S. taxpayers would not bear the cost, as Trump intends to strike deals with regional partners.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the Pentagon is “prepared to look at all options” regarding Gaza’s future.
However, some U.S. lawmakers have pushed back against the idea.
Republican Senator Rand Paul criticized the plan, stating, “We have no business contemplating yet another occupation to doom our treasure and spill our soldiers’ blood.”
Trump has since clarified his position, stating that Palestinians “would already have been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities” and confirming that “no U.S. soldiers would be needed.”
He also suggested that neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt should accept displaced Palestinians and threatened to cut off aid if they refuse.
While Jordan’s King Abdullah II initially rejected any forced resettlement, he later agreed to accept 2,000 sick Palestinian children into Jordan after meeting with Trump.
Egypt has also signaled its willingness to back Gaza recovery efforts, though it has not agreed to the relocation of residents.
As discussions continue, Trump’s vision for Gaza remains a polarizing topic, with ongoing negotiations expected to shape the region’s future.