Criticism and concern spread across both sides of the aisle Tuesday night following President Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States “will take over the Gaza Strip.”
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina called the proposal “problematic,” adding that he does not think his constituents would be excited about sending American soldiers to take control of Gaza.
“We’ll see what the Arab world says, but you know, that’d be problematic at many, many levels,” Graham said.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., slammed the proposal as “deranged” and “nuts,” calling American military presence in the region “a magnet for trouble.”
“I don’t know where this came from, but I can tell you…that would not get many expressions of support from Democrats or Republicans up here,” said Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said there were “a few kinks in that slinky.”
Asked to elaborate, Tillis said: “Obviously it’s not going to happen. I don’t know under what circumstance it would make sense even, even for Israel. Now, if Israel is asking for the United States to come in and provide some assistance to ensure that Hamas can never do again what they did, I’m in. But us taking over seems like a bit of a stretch.”
Trump announced his proposal after a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. He said that the U.S. intends to take “long-term ownership” of the war-torn Gaza Strip, after saying earlier that Palestinians had no choice and would not “want” to return to the area following the Israel-Hamas war.
“We’ll own it,” Trump said of Gaza. “We’re going to take over that piece, develop it and create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it will be something the entire Middle East can be proud of,” adding that he envisioned many people living in the area and that it could become “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Netanyahu called the move something that could “change history,” and said it was a “worthwhile” proposal that should be explored.
Upon hearing of Trump’s remarks, Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware clutched his face in shock, saying he was at a loss for words.
Frank Thorp V / NBC News
“You can report that I was speechless,” Coons, a Foreign Relations Committee member, said. “That’s insane. I can’t think of a place on earth that would welcome American troops less and where any positive outcome is less likely.”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations panel, said the proposal failed to address Palestinians’ concerns. Asked if it was something the U.S. could handle safely, she said: “I don’t think it’s something that’s in America’s best interest.”
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., the only Palestinian American member of Congress was more blunt.
She called the proposal “ethnic cleansing” and “fanatical bull—” in a post on X.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night on lawmaker reactions.
Some congressional Republicans voiced their support for Trump’s remarks.
Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C, and Richard Hudson, R-N.C., both members of the House Republican Israel Caucus, were among those supporting the proposal.
“President Trump will never stop working to ensure historic and lasting PEACE!” Hudson wrote on X.
“Let’s turn Gaza into Mar-A-Lago,” Mace said in her post.
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