A recent video shared by former President Donald Trump has ignited controversy over his proposal for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip. The video, set to an electronic dance beat, features lyrics declaring, “No more tunnels, no more fear. Trump Gaza is finally here,” and envisions a future where Gaza becomes a “Riviera of the Middle East.” This plan includes the permanent removal of over 2 million residents from the Palestinian territory, relocating them elsewhere.
In the 33-second video, AI-generated clips depict Palestinians amidst the rubble in Gaza. It transitions to portray a world where Gaza is developed under U.S. control, with imagery including a towering gold statue of Trump, Trump figurines in marketplace settings, and dollar bills falling from the sky. This depiction has been widely criticized as unrealistic and provocative.
The White House has not commented on the video's production or Trump’s use of it on his Truth Social account and Instagram. However, Anna Kelly, a White House spokeswoman, reiterated Trump’s vision: “President Trump is a visionary, and his plan to have the United States involved in Gaza’s rebuilding will allow for Palestinians to resettle in new, beautiful communities while improving conditions in the region for generations to come.”
Trump has provided inconsistent statements regarding whether Palestinians would be allowed to return to Gaza under his plan. Initially, he suggested that Palestinians could live in Gaza, but later he described the plan as a “real estate development for the future” in which Palestinians would relocate permanently elsewhere.
The proposal has been condemned by leaders across the Middle East, including those from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, who are working to formulate an alternative plan for Gaza. Critics, including Mustafa Barghouti, a Palestinian opposition politician, have expressed that the video is “arrogant and disrespectful” and violates international law and human rights.
On social media, Trump’s video has been met with widespread criticism. Many users describe it as callous and disturbing, with some labeling the gold statue imagery as “frightening” and “100% wrong.” Even supporters of Trump on his platform, Truth Social, have found the video to be in poor taste.
Ismail al-Thawabta, head of the Hamas government media office in Gaza, condemned the video “in the harshest terms,” emphasizing that Palestinians will not accept any imposed reality that contradicts their identity. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, also criticized Trump's approach, stating that the focus should be on enabling Palestinians to establish their state, rather than improving conditions under foreign control.
