Trump Wants To Turn Gaza Into The "Riviera Of The Middle East"

Summary

Summary of "Trump Wants To Turn Gaza Into The 'Riviera Of The Middle East'" The NPR Politics Podcast, Hosted by NPR | Released on February 6, 2025

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Introduction

In the February 6, 2025 episode of The NPR Politics Podcast, host Tamara Keith and co-hosts Don Gonyea and Greg Myre delve into former President Donald Trump's unexpected proposal to transform the Gaza Strip into a premier tourist destination, dubbing it the "Riviera of the Middle East." This episode examines the intricacies of Trump's plan, the regional and local reactions, and the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy and Middle Eastern geopolitics.

Trump's Proposal: Transforming Gaza

The episode opens with Don Gonyea breaking down Trump's announcement during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump suggested a "U.S. takeover of the Gaza Strip," aiming to convert the war-torn area into a thriving tourist hub.

Don Gonyea (01:01): "Trump floated the idea of a US takeover of the Gaza Strip and turning that war-torn territory into a tourist destination."

During the press conference, Trump emphasized the historical lessons and the potential magnificence of such a transformation.

Unnamed Speaker (01:36): "We have an opportunity to do something that could be phenomenal... the Riviera of the Middle East, this could be something that could be so bad, this could be so magnificent."

Policy Implications and Contradictions

Tamara Keith points out the stark contrast between Trump's proposal and his long-standing "America First" ideology, which emphasized reducing U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts. Don Gonyea echoes this sentiment, highlighting the lack of coherent policy planning behind the announcement.

Don Gonyea (05:35): "There was talk in a 'what if' way in conversations between the president and some of his staff... an official policy proposal that we can study and start really looking at that would be an overstatement."

Greg Myre adds that Trump's suggestion contradicts his previous efforts to withdraw U.S. troops from the Middle East, noting the improbability of successfully transforming Gaza given its current state.

Greg Myre (07:11): "The notion that this could just easily be transformed just defies belief of anybody who spent significant amount of time in the region."

Regional Reactions and Opposition

Greg Myre provides an in-depth analysis of the Middle Eastern response, emphasizing the widespread opposition among Palestinians and neighboring Arab countries. The historical context of Palestinian displacement since 1948 intensifies the sensitivity around any proposal to relocate Palestinians.

Greg Myre (02:23): "Palestinians oppose it. Where would they go in the region? No other country is offering to take them... a sense of especially the ones in Gaza."

He also notes the reluctance of key Arab nations like Egypt and Jordan to accept large numbers of Palestinian refugees, reflecting longstanding tensions and the complex demographics of these countries.

Local Reactions: Dearborn, Michigan

The podcast shifts focus to Dearborn, Michigan, a city with a significant Arab American population and strong ties to the Palestinian community. Don Gonyea discusses how the local population, traditionally Democratic, reacted to Trump's announcement, especially in the context of the recent presidential election where Dearborn supported Trump over Democratic candidates.

Don Gonyea (09:36): "The reaction here to what President Trump said this week, it certainly echoes what Greg is talking about in terms of the reaction around the world."

Abbas Alawea, a Democratic strategist in Dearborn, voices the frustration felt by the community, highlighting the misplaced blame directed at Muslim Americans for broader political shifts.

Abbas Alawea (11:49): "No. So he's saying Dearborn stood up for what it believed in."

On the Ground Perspectives: Voices from the Middle East

Greg Myre shares a poignant story from an 80-year-old Palestinian woman, Khadija Al Ali, living in a refugee camp on the outskirts of Damascus. Her narrative underscores the enduring trauma of displacement and skepticism towards Trump's proposal.

Khadija Al Ali (12:47): "If Trump was serious about helping them, he'd help them go back to their old homes, which are now inside Israel."

Her account highlights the deep-seated yearning for a return to ancestral homes and distrust in external interventions that do not address historical grievances.

Conclusion

The episode concludes by reiterating the complexity and controversy surrounding Trump's proposal to transform Gaza. The proposal not only clashes with his previous foreign policy stances but also ignites significant opposition both locally and regionally. The NPR Politics Podcast underscores the multifaceted challenges of such an initiative, reflecting on the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy and Middle Eastern stability.

Hosts:

• Tamara Keith: Covers the White House
• Greg Myre: Covers national security
• Don Gonyea: National political correspondent

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This summary is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the podcast episode for those who have not listened. For the full discussion and additional insights, please listen to the episode on NPR's website.

Transcript

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[Amy]

Hi, this is Amy in Jeff City, Missouri, where I'm about to go to my swearing in ceremony for the Missouri Bar.

[Tamara Keith]

This podcast was recorded at 1:35pm Eastern Time on Thursday, February 6.

[Amy]

Things may have changed by the time you hear it. Okay, here's the show.

[Tamara Keith]

Well, congratulations.

[Don Gonyea]

Big day indeed.

[Tamara Keith]

Yeah, yeah.

[Greg Myre]

Very exciting.

[Tamara Keith]

Hey there. It's the NPR Politics podcast. I'm Tamara Keith. I cover the White House.

[Greg Myre]

I'm Greg Myre. I cover national security.

[Don Gonyea]

And I'm Don Gonyea, national political correspondent.

[Tamara Keith]

Earlier this week, during a visit from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump and announced an out of the box plan for the Gaza Strip. So, Don, walk us through what President Trump said.

[Don Gonyea]

Right. It was one of those evening press conferences. You know, they usually start with a reasonably scripted opening statement and then it goes into whatever it goes into. And there was President Trump and the Israeli prime minister there. And Trump floated the idea of a US Takeover of the Gaza Strip and turning that war torn territory into a tourist destination.

[Unnamed Speaker]

You have to learn from history. History has, you know, just can't let it keep repeating itself. We have an opportunity to do something that could be phenomenal. And 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 something that could be so bad, this could be so magnificent.

[Tamara Keith]

Just to be clear, he is talking about relocating some 2 million Palestinians from their home and he's saying that it should be done because and it has been destroyed by this 15 month war. Greg, I think there are real policy questions about how to help Gaza recover from the war. But how did this land, well, not.

[Greg Myre]

Well here in the Middle east, just a complete rejection by the Palestinians. This strikes a very, very sensitive nerve. Most of the people in Gaza, about two thirds of the residents there are the descendants of refugees dating back to the first big Arab Israeli war in 1948. So when Trump says talks about uprooting Palestinians and moving them somewhere else, this just is the most sensitive chord of all. Palestinians oppose it. Where would they go in the region? No other country is offering to take them. They wouldn't want to be complicit in such an endeavor. So really strong opposition. And again, I can't overstate how strong this feeling is for Palestinians, a sense of especially the ones in Gaza. But Many Palestinians throughout the region, they've been dispossessed before. They've lost their homes. They dream of going back to those homes. And now they're being told they may be uprooted again, with no guarantees that they could ever go back to Gaza.

[Tamara Keith]

And, Greg, we should just note that you're in Damascus, Syria today doing reporting, but you have been to Gaza many times in your reporting career. You sort of touched on this. What are Arab countries saying about this proposal and what are they offering in terms of helping the recovery of Gaza?

[Greg Myre]

Right. So again, they're absolutely opposed. And the country probably at the forefront is Egypt, because if people are to leave Gaza by the ground, which is really the only way out, that would be through Egypt. So Egypt has long had this opposition to taking in large numbers of Palestinians. Again, they don't want to be seen as part of a move to empty out Palestinians from the places where they're living. Jordan is the other place that Trump raised. They have taken in a lot of Palestinians over there. Most of the Jordanian population is of Palestinian descent, but they, too, are opposed. And these are big American allies in the region. Now, other countries, the richer countries in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, we expect them to play some role in rebuilding Gaza. They have given money to the Palestinians in the past. Still, I'd make the larger point. The Palestinians have often felt let down by Arab states. They feel they get a lot of lip service for their cause, but they feel they don't really get what they need in terms of reaching their aspiration of a state. I should add that Arab states, including Syria, where I am now, have taken in large numbers of Palestinians dating all the way back to 1948. And many of those refugees and their descendants are still here.

[Tamara Keith]

Don, this was an announcement that, as you say, took a lot of people by surprise. Is there any clarity on how this would work, or was there a rollout with this where there was a policy process?

[Don Gonyea]

We understand that there were some discussions at the White House, but not planning meetings, not strategy sessions. But it was talked about in a what if way in conversations between the president and some of his staff. But we also saw within a day or so, other members of the administration kind of tamping it down a little bit, saying, well, if there is US Control, that would be temporary. We haven't determined who could live there yet, but we would hope it would be open to everyone, which presumably would include the Palestinian people. But to say that we have anything close to, like, an official policy proposal that we can study and start really looking at that. That would be an overstatement.

[Tamara Keith]

I do have to say that this seems like a pretty big departure from Trump's America first ideology. His the thing that he campaigned on, no foreign wars. And this comes as he's dismantling USAID and other foreign aid infrastructure. But then he's talking about essentially occupying or rebuilding the Gaza Strip.

[Don Gonyea]

Right. It both contradicts everything he's kind of stood for since he's been on the national stage and in politics. But it is also in line with other things he has said since winning the election in November.

[Greg Myre]

Yeah, let's not forget, you know, Trump is not known for being consistent, but this is really something where he has been consistent, talking about keeping the US out of messy foreign conflicts in general, but the Middle east in particular. In Trump's first term, he did the deal to remove US Troops from Afghanistan, although it was President Biden who ultimately took them out. But that was part of a Trump term deal. He wanted to take U.S. forces out of Iraq. There's talk of taking U.S. troops out of Syria. Now he wanted to do that in his first term and got talked out of it. But again, it seems to be on the table. So this is again, just absolutely contradictory to what Trump has talked about in the past. And it's really hard to see what the goal is. I mean, he talks about having this luxury place on the seafront in the Mediterranean Sea, but Gaza is again, a very poor place with no infrastructure in a very difficult part of the world. So the notion that this could just easily be transformed just defies belief of anybody who spent significant amount of time in the region.

[Tamara Keith]

All right, well, we're going to take a quick break and when we get back, more on reaction to this proposal.

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[Tamara Keith]

And dawn, you went to Dearborn, Michigan this week right after President Trump made this announcement. And that's a city that garnered a lot of attention in the lead up to this last presidential election because it has a large Arab American population. Many people there have family members in Gaza. And a lot of people were really mad at the Biden administration. So what did you hear from folks in Dearborn after this news broke?

[Don Gonyea]

It's impossible to separate this story from the story of the election in Dearborn. Again, Dearborn is a city with a majority Arab American population. The reaction here to what President Trump said this week, it certainly echoes what Greg is talking about in terms of the reaction around the world.

[Tamara Keith]

Don, how does the election play into this? What are people telling you?

[Don Gonyea]

Well, here's the thing about Dearborn. It traditionally votes Democratic. Joe Biden in 2020 won Dearborn by something like 40 points. But this last election took place as the war in Gaza was playing out. And there was tremendous anger at the Biden administration, at the president himself, and at Vice President and eventual Democratic nominee Kamala Harris over the U.S. s continued military support for Israel. The fact that Biden still spoke of how close America is to Israel and people who live, many of them longtime Democrats, but people who live in Dearborn found that unacceptable.

[Tamara Keith]

And in the end, Dearborn actually went for Trump over Harris. And a lot of votes also went to Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate and anti war candidate. So now how are people in Dearborn feeling about what Trump is saying?

[Don Gonyea]

So this week I was like dropping into coffee shops and the student union at the University of Michigan, Dearborn and just other places around town. But now let me play something from voter. His name is Abbas Alawea. He works as a Democratic strategist and he gets frustrated. Now when people look at what Trump said this week and then turn to Dearborn and say, are you guys happy.

[Abbas Alawea]

Now people are using this moment to say, well, Muslim Americans in Dearborn, Michigan, we told you so. This is your fault. Trump is your fault. Is Dearborn, Michigan to blame for Democrats losing Arizona? Is Dearborn, Michigan to blame for Democrats losing Pennsylvania or Wisconsin? Is Dearborn, Michigan to blame for Democrats losing any one of the of every single swing state in this country where Democratic leadership has failed to operate in a manner that is in touch with the pain that regular everyday Americans are experiencing? No.

[Don Gonyea]

So he's saying Dearborn stood up for what it believed in.

[Tamara Keith]

Greg, you also have some on the ground reporting. Tell us about that.

[Greg Myre]

Yeah, that's right, Tam. I was at a Palestinian refugee camp on the edge of Damascus and this was set up back in the 1948 war. And there's a woman there, Khadija Al Ali, and she is 80 years old. She came to that camp when she was three years old.

[Tamara Keith]

Wow.

[Greg Myre]

She has been there for 77 years. And she tells the story. She old enough to have lived through it, but others tell it through their parents or grandparents, how they left. They thought that this war would just last a week or a few months and they would return home. And here they are 77 years later. And so she said she had a message for the Palestinians in Gaza, which is simply, don't leave your home. Don't accept a promise that if you leave, you'll be able to go back. Palestinians do this all the time. They show you the rusting keys they have from their old homes, these yellowing Landee documents showing where they used to live, places they've never been able to go back and see. And she also said that she just didn't believe anything Donald Trump was saying. Trump was trying to pitch this as a humanitarian gesture to give Palestinians better lives. And she said, well, if Trump was serious about helping them, he'd help them go back to their old homes, which are now inside Israel. All right.

[Tamara Keith]

Well, we're going to leave it there for today. I'm Tamara Keith. I cover the White House.

[Greg Myre]

I'm Greg Myre. I cover national security.

[Don Gonyea]

And I'm Don Gonyea, national political correspondent.

[Tamara Keith]

And thank you for listening to the NPR Politics podcast.

[Amy]

Support for NPR and the following message come from satva. Saatva Luxury mattresses are every bit as elegant as the most expensive brands, but because they're sold online, they're about half the price. Visit saatva.com NPR and save an additional $200. Evergreen trees are Pacific Northwest icons in journalism. An evergreen story isn't tied to one news cycle. It goes deep and helps you understand the world. The Evergreen is also a podcast from OPB about the Northwest. I'm Jen Chavez. Listen to the Evergreen Pod MOPD every Monday, part of the NPR Network.