On today’s show: Trump proposed a permanent displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. Reuters has more. Meanwhile, Trump and Elon Musk are waging a two-front war as Musk does the president’s “dirty work.” Isaac Arnsdorf from the Washington Post has the story. Kate Sosin from The 19th looks at the Trump administration’s moves to restrict the rights of transgender people. Plus, Darren Beattie, who has made past controversial statements, has been named acting undersecretary of state for public diplomacy. The trial of the man accused in Salman Rushdie’s stabbing has begun. And the NFL plans to remove “End Racism” messaging in the end zone ahead of the Super Bowl. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.
Full Episode
Good morning. It's Wednesday, February 5th. I'm Shamita Basu. This is Apple News Today. On today's show, Elon Musk's takeover of Washington, how President Trump has rolled back rights for transgender Americans, and the NFL sends a different message ahead of the Super Bowl. But first, President Trump made extraordinary statements yesterday about the future of Gaza.
In a meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said the United States will seize the territory and have long-term ownership over its future development.
The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, will own it, and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for The people of the area do a real job, do something different.
Trump also said Palestinians should leave Gaza and go to neighboring Jordan and Egypt. When pressed on this plan by a reporter, he said anyone could eventually return after American development in the Strip.
We have an opportunity to do something that could be phenomenal. And I don't wanna be cute, I don't wanna be a wise guy, but the Riviera of the Middle East, this could be something that could be so magnificent. But more importantly than that is the people that have been absolutely destroyed that live there now can live in peace in a much better situation because they're living in hell.
And those people will now be able to live in peace
The comments are stunning, coming from an American president. And while he didn't offer many tangible details, it suggests a massive reshaping of American foreign policy in the region.
For decades, it's been American policy that Palestinians have a right to live in Gaza, even as there have been vast disagreements among American politicians about what that should mean and whether it should include a two-state solution. Late last night, some lawmakers offered early reactions to Trump's comments.
Senator Josh Hawley, who is a Republican, said that he doesn't think it's a good use of American resources or money to invest in Gaza and would prefer that investment be spent in the United States first.
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