President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. will “take over” the Gaza Strip while speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday.

The Details: Trump suggested the U.S. would clean up and redevelop the land, which he described as a “hellhole,” after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere. He said the U.S. could turn Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” as he tongue-in-cheekly described it, where the “world’s people,” including Palestinians, would live.

Key Quotes: Trump said, “I think you’ll make that into an international, unbelievable place… I don’t want to be cute, I don’t want to be a wise guy, but the Riviera of the Middle East… this could be so magnificent.” He also said, “You have to learn from history. You can't keep doing the same mistake over and over again. Gaza is a hellhole right now. It was before the bombing started, frankly. And we're gonna give people a chance to live in a beautiful community that’s safe and secure… I spoke to other leaders of countries in the Middle East, and they love the idea. They said it would bring stability.”

How The Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum prominently included different context or analysis on the potential consequences of Trump’s statement.

• Al Jazeera (Lean Left bias) described Trump’s announcement as a “shock” and noted that Hamas “swiftly condemned the proposal.”
• The Hill (Center) noted that during his first term, Trump’s peace plan, developed by his real estate developer son-in-law Jared Kushner, envisioned developing Gaza’s coastline with luxury resorts.
• Washington Times (Lean Right) highlighted that Trump didn’t rule out the use of military force.