President Donald Trump faced widespread criticism on September 29 following a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, where he unveiled his Gaza peace plan while making confusing statements about foreign leaders and appearing to struggle with basic details of his own proposal.
During the State Dining Room appearance, Trump presented a 20-point plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of remaining Israeli hostages. However, the president’s presentation raised questions about his grasp of the situation when he told reporters they were “beyond very close” to achieving a peace deal, only to have Netanyahu immediately clarify that he had already accepted the proposal.
Trump’s remarks about foreign leaders also drew mockery online. When discussing his relationships with world leaders who had helped develop the proposal, Trump stated: “But I’ve known them actually for a long time, and they’re in many cases really great men.” The president added that while he could not say this applied in all cases, many were great men and some great women too, though they tended to be mostly men.
The peace plan itself places Trump at the center of Gaza’s future governance through an international “Board of Peace” that he would chair. The proposal calls for Hamas to release all remaining hostages within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance, followed by Israel releasing 250 life-sentence prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained since October 7. A technocratic Palestinian committee would govern Gaza temporarily under Trump’s oversight, with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair also participating in the board.
Trump repeatedly referenced his real estate background when discussing the plan, expressing bewilderment at Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza. He described the decision as relinquishing prime oceanfront property, questioning who would make such a deal from a real estate perspective. The president called Gaza “the most magnificent piece of land, in many ways, in the Middle East” and suggested Israel had been “very generous” in its withdrawal.
The proposal received backing from eight Arab and Muslim-majority nations, including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Pakistan. These countries issued a joint statement welcoming Trump’s efforts and affirming their readiness to engage constructively toward finalizing the agreement. European powers including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain also expressed support for the plan.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif voiced strong support even before the official White House announcement, expressing his firm belief that Trump was fully prepared to assist in securing an end to the conflict. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also welcomed the comprehensive plan as providing a viable pathway to sustainable peace.
However, Hamas has yet to formally respond to the proposal, with officials saying they had not received the plan details. Hamas director Ismail Al-Thawabta rejected what he called an attempt to impose new trusteeship that would legitimize Israeli occupation. Islamic Jihad, another Palestinian armed group, dismissed the plan as a recipe for continued aggression against Palestinians.
The plan includes provisions for Gaza’s complete demilitarization, with Hamas required to hand over all weapons to independent monitors. An International Stabilization Force would secure the territory and train Palestinian police while preventing weapons smuggling. The Palestinian Authority would need to implement sweeping reforms, including abolishing payments to terrorists and reforming its education system according to UNESCO standards.
Trump’s weekend behavior also raised concerns about his awareness of current events. He posted and later deleted an artificial intelligence-generated video of himself promoting conspiracy theory “medbed cards” that would supposedly grant Americans access to hospitals capable of restoring full health. The president also shared a video promoting CBD oil for seniors, despite his frequent calls for executing drug dealers.
The press conference came amid Trump’s broader White House renovation project, which includes extensive use of 24-karat gold decorations in the Oval Office and Cabinet Room. The president bragged on social media that foreign leaders “freak out” when they see the quality and beauty of his golden remake, calling it the “best Oval Office ever” in terms of success and appearance.
Netanyahu’s visit marked his fourth trip to Washington since Trump returned to office in January, contrasting sharply with the cold reception he received at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, where many delegates walked out during his speech. The Israeli leader sought to strengthen the crucial US-Israel alliance following a wave of Western nations formally recognizing Palestinian statehood.
