Trump suggests Gaza ‘could be better than Monaco’ once rebuilt

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Gaza could become ‘one of the best places in the world’ if it were rebuilt properly, comparing its potential to the luxury destination of Monaco. Trump made the remarks during a radio interview on Monday, despite public records showing he has never visited Gaza.

Trump, a former real estate developer, said the Palestinian enclave along the Mediterranean “never took advantage” of its prime location. He suggested that under different circumstances, Gaza could thrive as a top destination.

“It could be better than Monaco. It has the best location in the Middle East,” Trump said in the interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, “I’ve been there, and it’s rough. It’s a rough place… before all of the attacks,” he added, though no public records support his claim of visiting Gaza.

Clarification on Trump’s statement

Following Trump’s comments, his campaign told the New York Times that “Gaza is in Israel. President Trump has been to Israel.” Gaza is not part of Israel.

Gaza remains under Israeli blockade since 2007.

Conditions in Gaza

Before the current conflict, Gaza was already facing severe conditions, exacerbated by years of Israeli blockade and conflict. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war last year, nearly 60% of the buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged.

Trump visited Israel as president in 2017, where he traveled to Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. In response to questions about Trump’s statements on Gaza, campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt reiterated that Trump “has been to Gaza previously” and emphasized his efforts to broker peace in the Middle East, including negotiating the Abraham Accords.