Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Wednesday slammed President Trump’s proposal to grab management of Gaza, ship in U.S. troops if vital and switch it into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
“The pursuit for peace should be that of the Israelis and the Palestinians. I thought we voted for America First. We have no business contemplating yet another occupation to doom our treasure and spill our soldiers [sic] blood,” Paul posted on the social media website X.
Paul connected his remark to a repost of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s put up touting Trump’s plans for making Gaza “beautiful again.”
Paul appeared alarmed by Trump’s willingness to ship U.S. troops to Gaza to determine safety if “necessary.”
“As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that. We’re going to take over that piece that we’re going to develop it,” Trump stated throughout a joint press convention with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Some Republicans, nonetheless, have responded favorably to Trump’s proposal, together with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
“Yeah, we’re trying to get the details of it, but I think it is a good development,” Johnson instructed a reporter for CNN.
Democrats might use their leverage over U.S. weapons gross sales to Israel to push again in opposition to Trump.
Democratic lawmakers have already positioned a maintain on a $1 billion arms sale to Israel, which would come with 1,000-pound bombs and armored bulldozers constructed by Caterpillar.