Speaker Johnson Backs Trump’s Gaza Plan

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., expressed support for President Donald Trump’s ambitious foreign policy goals at a news conference Wednesday, praising the president’s talk of redeveloping Gaza and downsizing the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Johnson’s backing came the day after Trump stunned the world with his remarks at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The president mused about the future of Gaza, which borders Israel.

On Tuesday, Trump announced that the inhabitants of Gaza should be relocated to a “good, fresh, beautiful piece of land” and have the United States “take over” the territory to rebuild it as a place for “the people of the world” to live.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday morning, Johnson was not able to elaborate on the details of the proposal, but praised Trump’s initiative.

Asked point blank whether it is an “America first” policy for the United States to take control of Gaza, Johnson showed his unconditional support for Trump’s pronouncement.

 “The initial announcement yesterday I think was greeted [with] surprise by many, but cheer by, I think, people all around the world. Why? Because that area is so dangerous, and he’s taking bold, decisive action to try to ensure the peace of that region,” the speaker said.

“It’s a bold move, certainly far bolder than what’s been done before, but I think we’ve got to stand unequivocally, in an unwavering manner as [House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn.] says, with Israel, our closest ally and friend in the Middle East. I think if we could bring control to that situation and bring about a lasting peace there, it would do well for everybody.”

Johnson also stood by Trump and Elon Musk’s work to restrict the excesses of USAID, a federal foreign- aid agency that the two have accused of wasteful spending and promoting far-left ideology abroad.

Pulling out a binder, he began to read a list of purported wasteful spending by the agency.

“You tell me if this is unreasonable—some of the stuff that the money is being spent on that we didn’t even know, crazy examples that came out. Look, $100 million on initiatives like expanding atheism in Nepal. That’s what American taxpayers should be paying for? No way. Transgender operas in Colombia, drag shows in Ecuador—no way,” said Johnson.

“We have a $36 trillion federal debt. It is a serious threat to the future and security of our nation. We’ve got to spend money better. And if this executive branch and this White House is going to take the initiative to dig in and find those details and expose them, we applaud it. We’re all onboard.”

The post Speaker Johnson Backs Trump’s Gaza Plan appeared first on The Daily Signal.