President Donald Trump's suggestion that the U.S. could take over the Gaza Strip — and move Palestinians out of Gaza — left the internet stunned Tuesday evening.
Trump made the eyebrow-raising comment while speaking to reporters alongside Israel's far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip. And we will do a job with it, too. We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site. Level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings. Level it out. Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area. Do a real job," said Trump.
"It'll be something the entire Middle East can be proud of," he said, later suggesting the land could be redeveloped into the "Riviera of the Middle East."
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The internet predictably was left scratching its head.
"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?" Questioned Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) on X.
"Am I having a stroke or did Trump just talk about the US 'owning' Gaza? And maybe sending US troops?" asked MSNBC host Chris Hayes on Bluesky.
Hayes separately wrote: "I know we can’t run around on fire every time Trump says something but he appears to have just announced the new US policy on Gaza which is to take ownership of it, ethnically cleanse it of the 1.8 million Palestinians there and maintain a long term ownership stake as it’s 'developed.'"
"He absolutely said that s---," replied government affairs and media communications professional Emily Mijatovic.
"I seem to remember telling the uncommitted voters that Trump would level Gaza," wrote the popular Mueller, She Wrote account on Bluesky.
"Omg wut?" questioned Molly Jong-Fast, special correspondent at Vanity Fair and host of the Fast politics podcast.
"Philip Gourevitch, staff writer at The New Yorker, replied, "'the site' - he’s talking as a waterfront property developer."
Sarah Wood, social media director at Vote Vets, chided voters who snubbed Vice President Kamala Harris over her position on Gaza.
"Trump Hotel - Gaza[.]Good job Harris protesters!" she wrote on Bluesky.
