“5 Bombshell Moments from the Trump-Netanyahu Press Conference!”
President Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday for their first bilateral press conference and Oval Office meeting of Trump’s second term.
Trump’s Vision for Gaza: Reconstruction & Relocation
Trump compared Gaza to a demolition site and reiterated his controversial stance that millions of Palestinians should permanently relocate to neighboring countries. He proposed that the U.S. take control of Gaza, clear the rubble, and develop it into an economic hub with jobs and housing.
Trump also didn’t rule out the possibility of sending U.S. troops to Gaza. During his meeting with Netanyahu, he emphasized that regional cooperation could lead to job opportunities for all, not just specific groups. He expressed confidence that Jordan and Egypt would offer land to facilitate relocation efforts.
‘Riviera of the Middle East’
Trump envisioned a transformed Gaza, where people from all nations, including Palestinians, could live in a redeveloped, world-class environment. While he didn’t explicitly endorse or reject a two-state solution, he dismissed the current situation as unsustainable due to ongoing conflict.
“You have to learn from history,” Trump said, adding that he wanted to see Gaza become the ‘Riviera of the Middle East.’ Drawing on his background as a global property developer, he described a future Gaza as “so magnificent.”
Trump and Netanyahu Double Down on Iran, Cease-Fire, and Biden Criticism
Tougher Stance on Iran
Trump vowed to ramp up pressure on Iran, pledging “the most aggressive possible sanctions” to cripple Iran’s oil exports and weaken Hezbollah. He credited his first-term policies for destabilizing Iran and signed a memorandum reimposing harsher restrictions.
“They cannot have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple,” Trump declared. Netanyahu echoed this, saying both leaders were committed to rolling back Iran’s aggression in the region.
Cease-Fire Talks & Middle East Stability
With a second phase of cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas looming, Trump expressed hope for lasting peace.
“I’m hopeful this cease-fire could be the start of something bigger—an end to the bloodshed once and for all,” Trump said. He also emphasized strengthening U.S. influence in the region, announcing the U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council and cutting funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency.
Taking Aim at Biden
Both leaders took jabs at former President Joe Biden. Trump blamed him for “not so many victories in the past four years,” adding that “the horrors of Oct. 7 would never have happened if I were president.”
Netanyahu called Trump “Israel’s greatest friend in the White House” and praised his past moves, like relocating the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and brokering the Abraham Accords.
Highlighting Trump’s return to power, Netanyahu noted the newly brokered cease-fire and Trump’s approval of 2,000-pound bomb shipments to Israel—reversing Biden’s decision to withhold them.
“Ladies and gentlemen, all this in just two weeks,” Netanyahu said. “Can you imagine where we’ll be in four years?”
Write to Natalie Andrews at natalie.andrews@wsj.com and Meridith McGraw at Meridith.McGraw@WSJ.com