US President Donald Trump has made a series of changing statements about Gaza since January 2025. These statements began with calls for Egypt and Jordan to accept Palestinians and culminated in a controversial proposal for the US to take control of the Gaza Strip.Key Dates and Statements

January 25 – Just five days into office, Trump suggested Palestinians should be moved to Jordan and Egypt, later repeating this vision on January 27, 30, and 31, claiming neighboring leaders would agree—despite public rejections from both countries.

February 4 – Ahead of meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump stated that Palestinians “should get a good, fresh, beautiful piece of land,” implying permanent displacement from Gaza. That evening, he proposed that the U.S. take control of Gaza to clear unexploded bombs and facilitate reconstruction—possibly with military support.

February 5–6 – White House and State Department officials attempted to soften Trump’s remarks, framing any relocation as temporary and denying plans for U.S. boots on the ground.

February 10 – Trump declared in a Fox News interview that Palestinians would not have a right to return, as they would have “much better housing” elsewhere.

February 11 – During a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah, Trump reaffirmed: “We will have Gaza... We're going to take it. We're going to hold it. We're going to cherish it.”

April 7 & July 7 – In further meetings with Netanyahu, Trump restated his Gaza plans, calling the enclave “incredible real estate” and suggesting the U.S. serve as a “peace force” to manage the area post-conflict. He reiterated that Palestinians should be relocated and resettled across the region.

International Backlash

Trump’s remarks have been widely condemned as a violation of international law, which prohibits forcible population transfers. The U.N. and multiple human rights organizations labeled his proposals as potentially amounting to ethnic cleansing.

Despite the backlash, Trump continues to advocate for a radical reshaping of Gaza’s future—rejecting Arab-led reconstruction plans and positioning the U.S. as a direct postwar administrator.