Minnesota Democratic Senator Tina Smith strongly criticized President Donald Trump on Tuesday after he proposed that the United States take ownership of the Gaza Strip, forcibly relocate Palestinians, and redevelop the region as a lucrative real estate project.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump described his vision for the coastal enclave, calling it “The Riviera of the Middle East.”
Senator Smith called the proposal “horrifying” and accused Trump of ignoring Palestinian sovereignty while pursuing a self-serving real estate deal.
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“We can’t be shocked by anything that comes out of President Trump’s mouth at this point, but this is horrifying,” Smith said. “He seems to be completely ignoring the sovereignty and self-determination of the Palestinian people who have lived in this place for generations.”
Trump’s remarks come amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza and follow statements from his Middle East envoy suggesting that a three-to-five-year timeline for rebuilding the war-torn region is unfeasible. Despite international calls for a diplomatic resolution, Trump framed his proposal as a long-term U.S. strategic investment.
“This is not a decision made lightly,” Trump stated. “Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land.”
Smith, a vocal advocate for Palestinian self-determination, dismissed Trump’s comments as “ridiculous” and an insult to those suffering in the region.
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“He’s got his eye on some real estate deal because he thinks Gaza’s coastline would be great for a new hotel,” Smith remarked. “The people who have lived there—who have already been victimized by Hamas and devastated by this terrible war—are now confronted with the President of the United States suggesting that they be forcibly removed elsewhere.”
Smith also suggested that Trump’s proposal might be a diversion from ongoing financial turmoil at the U.S. Treasury Department, which she linked to Elon Musk’s involvement in federal payment systems.
“It seems completely possible that Trump is also trying to distract us from the ransacking of the Treasury Department’s federal payment system that is going on right now under the thumb of Elon Musk,” she said.
The senator vowed to use her legislative and communication powers to oppose the proposal and raise awareness about other pressing national issues, including economic stability and Social Security protections.
“I will use all of the powers that I have to try to stop this,” Smith added. “My dad gets his Social Security check, my neighbors rely on their health insurance payments—this is not something we can just ignore.”
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Smith also called out Senate Republicans for their continued alignment with Trump, suggesting that their silence on his Gaza ownership proposal is indicative of their broader loyalty to him.
“Right now, the United States Senate looks like it belongs to Donald Trump,” she said. “Where are my Republican colleagues on this? Are they going to support this outrageous proposal? Are they going to let this stand?”
The White House has not provided further details on how Trump’s administration would implement such a plan, but Netanyahu commented in support of the idea.
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