Democrats Compose Letter to Trump Calling for US to Recognize Palestinian Statehood  

More than a dozen Democrat lawmakers have signed onto a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to recognize Palestinian statehood.  

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., is leading the effort among his fellow House Democrats.  

“Given the horrors of what’s going on in Gaza … it’s time for the United States to officially recognize a Palestinian state,” Khanna said during a town hall meeting last week.  

The letter, which Axios obtained a copy of, is addressed to Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.  

“This tragic moment has highlighted for the world the long overdue need to recognize Palestinian self-determination,” the letter reads.  

In addition to Khanna, Democrat Reps. Greg Casar, Lloyd Doggett, Veronica Escobar, and Al Green of Texas have signed the letter, along with Maxwell Frost of Florida, Jared Huffman of California, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, and Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, André Carson of Indiana, Chellie Pingree of Maine, Nydia Velazquez of New York, and Jim McGovern of Massachusetts.  

“We encourage the governments of other countries that have yet to recognize Palestinian statehood, including the United States, to do so as well,” the lawmakers write.  

The letter comes as France, the U.K., and Canada have all announced plans to recognize Palestine as a state.  

In July, French President Emmanuel Macron said France will recognize Palestine as a state at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The U.K. and Canada made similar announcement shortly thereafter unless Israel reaches a ceasefire with Hamas before the U.N. General Assembly.  

The House Democrat’s letter is unlikely to sway Trump’s opinion on the issue of Palestinian statehood.  

Following Macron’s announcement on Palestine, Trump told the press Macron could do as he pleased, but added, “Here’s the good news: What he says doesn’t matter.”  

Trump “feels as though that’s rewarding Hamas at a time where Hamas is the true impediment to a ceasefire and to the release of all of the hostages,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reports when ask about the president’s opinion on France, the U.K., and Canada’s plan to recognize Palestine as a state.  

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