White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated at a briefing that the Trump administration does not intend to pay for the reconstruction of Gaza and has not committed to sending American troops there, writes The Washington Post.
Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, told Republican senators at a closed dinner in the Capitol that Trump «does not want to deploy American troops on the ground and generally does not want to spend American dollars» on the Gaza Strip, Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri told The New York Times. The Republican senator asked Witkoff if Trump's comments last night were made in a fit of emotion, and Witkoff replied that the administration «had been nurturing this plan for some time», added Hawley.
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated at a press conference in Guatemala that President Donald Trump's promise to take over the management of the Gaza Strip and develop it was a «very generous» offer that should not be seen as hostile. «The only thing President Trump did... was express the United States' willingness to intervene and clear unexploded ordnance in the war-torn enclave, for which the Palestinians would have to leave it for some time», Rubio interpreted Trump's words.
«No country in the world has taken a step forward», noted Rubio.
He also stated that he «would have preferred» to reorganize USAID in a more «orderly manner», but «unfortunately, we had very little cooperation». Rubio accused USAID staff of «insubordination», stating that they refused to cooperate with the Trump administration in reviewing aid programs and in some cases tried to «push through payments» even after President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day suspension of aid.
USAID staff, in conversation with WP, rejected these accusations, stating that Trump's appointees, led by Pete Morocco, forced them to act blindly by imposing a freeze on foreign aid without a system for processing exceptions for vital humanitarian aid. Additionally, several officials told the publication that they were placed on administrative leave without any explanation.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump will sign an order aimed at banning transgender athletes from participating in women's competitions, denying federal funds to schools that allow it, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reported at a briefing, calling it part of Trump's promise to «restore common sense to our country».
Meanwhile, fourteen state attorneys general previously issued a statement saying they would go to court if the Trump administration attempts to stop funding hospitals providing assistance to young people under 19 in connection with gender changes.
Last week, Trump signed an order directing federal agencies to cease federal funding for hospitals providing such assistance. Since then, hospitals in New York, Washington D.C., and other cities have stopped treating transgender children.
They called Trump's order «scientifically and legally flawed».
«No federal law makes gender-affirming care illegal. President Trump cannot change this with his order», stated the statement.
Photo: The Washington Post