Speaker Mike Johnson Calls Trump's Gaza Plans 'Bold, Decisive Move'

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has seemingly come out in support of President Donald Trump's proposal to take "ownership" of the Gaza Strip and turn it into "the Riviera of the Middle East." The Republican Speaker, who has become one of Trump's top allies in Congress, applauded the president's comments, calling them a "bold, decisive move" that was "cheered by people all around the world."

Trump's suggestion came at a White House news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was standing by the president as he detailed plans to build new settlements for Palestinians outside the Gaza Strip.

"The U.S. will take over the Gaza strip, and we will do a job with it too," Trump said. "We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs."

The president's mention was seemingly met with support from House Speaker Mike Johnson, who was asked about the topic several times in the hours that followed Trump and Netanyahu's joint press conference.

At a press conference in the Capitol on Wednesday, Johnson was asked if he believed the US should take control of Gaza and requested a "yes or no" answer.

"We await further details on what exactly that looks like," he said. "This is a bold, decisive move, and I think you have to do something to eradicate the threat to Israel."

He also took to X to support the president, replying to another of Trump's posts on the platform that said "the U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too."

"The United States stands firmly with Israel and the people of the Middle East, which haven't experienced peace in many, many years. Violence and hatred do not have to define the region's future," Johnson replied.

"Today, President Trump took bold action in hopes of achieving lasting peace in Gaza," he continued. "We are hopeful this brings much needed stability and security to the region."

He then went a step further, claiming that the initial announcement "was cheered by people all around the world."

The announcement, however, was not cheered by some prominent members of his party. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), for instance, a loyal Trump supporter, called the proposal "problematic," adding that he does not think his constituents would be excited about sending U.S. soldiers to Gaza. "We'll see what the Arab world says, but you know, that'd be problematic at many, many levels," he said.

Similarly, Saudi Arabia, an important American ally, weighed in on Trump's idea in a sharply worded statement, noting that its long call for an independent Palestinian state was a "firm, steadfast and unwavering position."

"The kingdom of Saudi Arabia also stresses what it had previously announced regarding its absolute rejection of infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, annexation of Palestinian lands or efforts to displace the Palestinian people from their land," the statement said.