U.S. President Donald Trump has doubled down on his controversial suggestion that the United States should “take over” the Gaza Strip, insisting that “everybody loves it,” despite widespread international condemnation.

Speaking in the Oval Office during the swearing-in of new U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump dismissed the uproar over his remarks, refusing to take further questions on the matter.

His proposal has been met with fierce resistance from Palestinian leaders, Middle East governments, and U.S. lawmakers, including members of his own country’s political establishment.

Democrats have strongly criticised Trump’s comments, accusing him of advocating for the forced displacement of Palestinians.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called his remarks “horrific” and described them as part of an ongoing campaign against the Palestinian people.

Similarly, Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian-American, urged her Democratic colleagues to denounce the proposal, declaring, “Palestinians aren’t going anywhere.”

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut went further, calling the idea of a U.S. invasion of Gaza a “bad, sick joke” that would lead to the deaths of thousands of American troops and entangle the U.S. in a prolonged conflict in the Middle East

Congressman Troy Carter, another Democratic lawmaker, ridiculed Trump’s comparison of war-torn Gaza to a future luxury destination, saying, “Developing war-torn land like a Trump golf resort isn’t a peace plan—it’s an insult.”

Meanwhile, Palestinian voices have rejected the notion of leaving Gaza altogether. Residents interviewed by BBC Arabic emphasised their deep-rooted connection to their homeland, vowing to remain despite ongoing destruction.

One resident stated, “After all the suffering we’ve endured—bloodshed, displacement, and destruction—how could we leave now? This is our right, our homeland, and our identity.”

Despite the backlash, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson offered cautious support for Trump’s stance, calling it “bold and decisive.”

While he stopped short of endorsing U.S. control over Gaza, he warned that the region’s current state could lead to further security threats, referencing the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.