President Donald Trump’s vague vow that the United States will “take over the Gaza Strip” is sparking quick pushback, and confusion, among some of his key allies in the Senate GOP.
Trump provided no details during a press conference on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about how the United States would acquire the land, but said that the United States will “own it and be responsible.” Many lawmakers were learning about the remarks in real time as they headed to a vote on confirming Pam Bondi for attorney general Tuesday night.
“There’s probably a couple of kinks in that slinky,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said after a reporter described the rough parameters of what Trump had said.
Another GOP senator, granted anonymity to give his candid reaction to Trump’s comments, was equally direct: “I did not have this on my bingo card. … I got so many questions.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in a brief interview that he hadn’t seen the statement, but that “I think we’re obviously all interested in facilitating a solution to the Middle East, particularly with the whole situation in Gaza.”
“How we best achieve that I think is still — it’s a subject of conversation, sounds like he’s got an idea on that,” he added.
It’s the latest in a growing list of examples of Trump catching congressional Republicans off guard with his actions or rhetoric — a call back to his first administration when GOP lawmakers frequently claimed they hadn’t seen Trump’s latest tweet or comment.
Senate Foreign Relations Chair Jim Risch (R-Idaho) said he had not heard Trump’s remarks and so “I don’t want to comment.” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said that “I don’t really know what to make of that” and joked that reporters should check back with him on Wednesday.
Other allies tried to walk a careful line between not shutting the door to Trump but also signaling their skepticism about taking over the Gaza Strip.
“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. I think that might be problematic, but I’ll keep an open mind,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Asked about sending U.S. troops, he added that Gaza “would be a tough place to be stationed as an American.”
Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who noted he still had to take a look at the comments, said Trump might be doing this as a negotiating tactic. He added that maybe the president is trying to “force a resolution” on a “very difficult issue.”
“I don’t know that I think it’s the best use of United States resources to spend a bunch of money in Gaza, I think maybe I’d prefer that to be spent in the United States first,” Sen. Josh Hawley said. “But let’s see what happens.”
When asked if he thought sending US troops to Gaza was the right solution, the Missouri Republican said he did not.
While Democrats were largely critical of Trump’s remarks, one appeared to open the door to a potential American presence in Gaza: Sen. John Fetterman. The Pennsylvanian, who has been vocally supportive of Israel, called Trump’s remarks “provocative” but added that “it’s part of a conversation and that’s where we are.”
Asked if he wanted to see U.S. involvement physically in Israel, including troops on the ground, he added: “They’ll certainly be a part of it. I don’t know what the role is. But they’re obviously a part of it.”
Progressives were much more critical. Michigan Rep. Rashida Tliab, the only Palestinian American member of Congress, said in a post on X that Trump was “openly calling for ethnic cleansing,” adding: “He’s perfectly fine cutting off working Americans from federal funds while the funding to the Israeli government continues flowing.”
