President Donald Trump welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benajamin Netanyahu to the White House on Tuesday, marking his first visit from foreign leaders in Trump’s second term.
During Netanyahu’s visit, Trump also announced a massive plan that suggests the US will “take over” the Gaza Strip with “long-term ownership” to provide stability to the region.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will work with it,” Trump said at a joint press conference with Netanyahu on Tuesday evening. “We own it and are responsible for dismantling any dangerous, misfire bombs and other weapons on the site.”
Still, White House spokesman Caroline Leavitt said the president would not commit to placing US troops on the ground in Gaza as part of his reconstruction effort.
“We have made it very clear to the President that the United States needs to be involved in this reconstruction effort to ensure regional stability for all people,” Levitt said at a White House press conference on Wednesday. He told the group. “But that doesn’t mean boots on the ground in Gaza. It doesn’t mean that American taxpayers will fund this effort. That’s what Donald Trump, the best deal maker on the planet, is , meaning we will enter into a contract with our partners. Region.
Trump has not promised to put Gaza troops on the ground, the White House says
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said the president would not commit to putting US troops in Gaza on the ground as part of his rebuilding efforts. (Evan Vucci/AP)
Leavitt said Trump is “a thinker outside the box” and “a visionary leader in solving problems that many other people, especially in this city, cannot solve.” I stated.
The announcement sparked backlash from Democratic lawmakers against leaders of Hamas, a Palestinian extremist group.
“President Trump has mentioned his intention to replace Gaza Strip residents with its outside, and US territory is a forced crime,” a Hamas official told Fox News on Wednesday.
Here are other actions Trump took to take office for the two weeks:
Maximum pressure on Iran
Trump also directed the Treasury to implement “maximum economic pressure” on Iran through a series of sanctions aimed at reviving his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran and sinking Iran’s oil exports.
Trump said Tuesday that he was “torn apart” about signing the order, admitting that he “is unhappy to do that,” and that the executive order is very strict for Iran.
“Hopefully we’ll have to use it much,” Trump told reporters Tuesday.
Trump later told reporters at a joint press conference with Netanyahu that he believes Iran is “close” to developing nuclear weapons, but the US would stop “strong” Tehran from getting it.
Trump revives “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu answer questions at a joint press conference at the East Room of the White House in Washington, Washington on February 4, 2025 (Lea Milis/Reuters)
“They’re very strong right now and we’re not going to get them nuclear weapons,” Trump said.
His first administration also adopted a “maximum pressure” initiative on Tehran, and issued greater sanctions and stricter enforcement for violations.
Strict sanctions were reimposed on Iran in May 2018 after President Trump withdrew from Iran’s deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan.
Judgement against the International Criminal Court
Trump also signed an executive order sanctioning the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday in response to Netanyahu’s arrest warrant in May 2024.
The order, praised even by some top Democrats, reveals financial sanctions and visa restrictions on ICC officials and their families that support the ICC investigation of US citizens and allies.
The White House also signed an executive order on Thursday to set up a task force dedicated to weeding “anti-Christian bias” with the Department of Justice, as well as a review of all non-governmental organizations that accept federal funds. I’ve given you instructions.
The ICC is an independent international organization based in The Hague and was established under the law of Rome, an international treaty that came into effect in 2002. The court oversees global issues such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The Trump White House argues that the United States and Israel are not subject to ICC jurisdiction, as courts pose a threat to US sovereignty and constitutional protections. Furthermore, the White House denounced the ICC for politicization, saying it targeted Israel without keeping a regime like Iran to the same standard.
Sovereign wealth fund
The U.S. Treasury and Commerce Department will establish a sovereign wealth fund in accordance with a new executive order signed Monday.
According to Trump, Sovereign Wealth Fund, a state-owned investment fund with a variety of financial assets such as stocks and bonds, could draft legislation to buy Tiktok.
“We’re probably going to do something with Tiktok, but probably not,” Trump told reporters Monday. “If we do the right deal, we do that. Otherwise we don’t.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent said the sovereign wealth fund will be created within the next 12 months.
What we know about the Trump Administration’s plan for sovereign wealth funds
Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent said the sovereign wealth fund will be created within the next 12 months. (via Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP Getty Images)
“I think it’s going to be very strategically important,” Bescent told reporters Monday.
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According to the White House, Bescent and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick have been instructed to devise plans over the next 90 days to create the fund. The proposal includes recommendations on funding mechanisms, investment strategies, fund structures, and governance models.
Details about the Sovereign Wealth Fund are not available immediately, and it is unclear whether Congress will register with it.
Greg Norman of Fox News contributed to this report.
Diana Stancy is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, covering the White House.
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