On February 4 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump reignited the debate over U.S. ‘Neo-Expansionism’ as he vowed to take control of the war-torn Gaza Strip in 2024 and develop it.
“The United States is going to take over Gaza,” Trump declared at a joint press conference after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, adding that Palestinians in Gaza should be resettled elsewhere.
This marks the third instance of expansionist rhetoric from Trump, following his demand for the return of Panamá and his desire to acquire Greenland—not counting his seemingly less serious “pursuit” of Canadian annexation. Following the New York Post, one of the most pro-Trump media outlets in the U.S., referring to the Panama Canal as the ‘PANA-MAGA Canal’ and Greenland as ‘Ourland,’ speculation has risen that Gaza could become a ‘MAGA-ZA’ zone.
Notably, after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Trump announced his intention to relocate the entire population of Gaza and develop the territory under U.S. ownership. This move is viewed as another manifestation of colonialist territorial ambitions and has been criticized for framing the Palestinian issue through the lens of real estate development.
Trump’s idea of expanding U.S. power without direct military conflict appears to be connected to his MAGA (Make America Great Again) and ‘America First’ slogans. It is also possible to interpret Trump’s “business expansion DNA”—rooted in his background as a real estate developer—as influencing his management of the country since his re-election. Additionally, this rhetoric may serve as a strategy to satisfy his supporters.
The New York Times (NYT) criticized Trump’s remarks, stating that he spoke about Gaza “like a real estate developer rather than a world leader responding to a major conflict.” The report further noted that “Mr. Trump has added Gaza to a growing list of territories he wants to take over, joining Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal.”
Whether this plan will ever materialize remains uncertain. In international relations, where there is always opposition, the United States, as a superpower, is often perceived as acting in its own interests without considering global resistance. In a statement, Nihad Awad, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, criticized the forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, arguing that it would spark conflict, tarnish the U.S. reputation, and render international law irrelevant, according to the NYT.
There is also widespread concern that using ‘economic power’ and ‘strength’ to fulfill expansionist ambitions could harm U.S. national interests in the medium and long term. Some argue that if the U.S. prioritizes expansionist policies over its traditional leadership role, other nations—such as China—may step into the vacuum of international leadership.
Works Cited
Khalil, Hafsa. “US Confirms Direct Talks with Hamas over Gaza Hostages.” BBC News, BBC, 5 Mar. 2025, www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mwln4p87do.
Ordoñez, Franco, and Deepa Shivaram. “Trump Says He Wants the U.S. to Take Ownership of the Gaza Strip.” NPR, NPR, 5 Feb. 2025,
www.npr.org/2025/02/04/nx-s1-5287012/trump-netanyahu-ceasefire-gaza.
By. Wonjun Lee