Defense Secretary Hegseth says 'all options' are on the table after Trump floated a US takeover of Gaza

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down connected President Donald Trump’s connection for the United States to "take over" the Gaza Strip, saying "all options" are connected the table. 

Hegseth declined to get up of the commander-in-chief astir what the United States would oregon wouldn’t do, alternatively telling Fox News big Laura Ingraham successful an interrogation connected Wednesday that Trump is an "outside-the-box thinker" who is consenting to "overturn the pome cart."

Trump made shockwaves connected Tuesday erstwhile helium said the United States could perchance "take over" the Gaza Strip, level it and rebuild it astatine immoderate constituent successful the future. The 47th president told reporters helium sees a "long-term ownership position" of the enclave and believes it could beryllium the "Riviera of the Middle East."

ALLIES AND FOES REJECT TRUMP'S ‘RIVIERA' PLANS FOR GAZA: ‘NEW SUFFERING AND NEW HATRED’

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reply questions during a associated property league successful the East Room astatine the White House successful Washington, D.C., connected Feb. 4. (REUTERS/Leah Millis)

Hegseth, a erstwhile "Fox & Friends Weekend" co-host, said it’s Israel’s occupation to eradicate Hamas and erstwhile that happens, the presumption of Gaza is simply a speech Trump is consenting to have.

"You bring bid by eradicating terrorists who question the demolition of Israel. That's however you bring peace, and truthful I enactment that," he said. "What happens aft that is simply a longer conversation, and hopefully successful each case, the president would admit this — you don't privation to person to usage American boots astatine each if you don't person to. That's my preference."

Trump told reporters astatine the White House that the United States would "own" the Gaza Strip and "be liable for dismantling each of the dangerous, unexploded bombs and different weapons connected the site." When asked whether U.S. troops would be sent to Gaza, the president said, "As acold arsenic Gaza is concerned, we'll bash what is necessary. If it's necessary, we'll bash that."

People inspect the debris and rubble astatine the tract of Israeli bombardment connected a residential artifact successful Jalaa Street successful Gaza City connected Jan. 14, 2025 amid the ongoing warfare successful the Palestinian territory betwixt Israel and Hamas. (OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images)

Joey Jones, a Fox News contributor and retired Marine weaponry tech who lost his legs successful an IED detonation successful Afghanistan, said he’s "not for" Trump’s connection of American troops being liable for unexploded ordinances.

"My intuition, my belief, is that this is simply a portion of his chess, and this is his mode of getting places similar possibly Saudi Arabia oregon Jordan to say, 'No, no, no, you can't person this. Let america bash it.' Maybe it is that simple. But you know, I'm a hypocrite if I don't basal up and say, ‘Hey, wait conscionable a minute,’ I conscionable voted for you due to the fact that you said we wouldn't get progressive with much wars," Jones explained connected "The Will Cain Show."

HAMAS, WHO SPARKED WAR WITH ISRAEL, SAYS TRUMP'S REBUILD GAZA PLAN IS A ‘RECIPE FOR CREATING CHAOS’

Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia person rejected Trump’s calls to relocate Palestinians arsenic the enclave is being rebuilt.

Palestinians proceed to instrumentality backmost to their homes aft a ceasefire statement betwixt Israel and Hamas, amid demolition successful Gaza City, Gaza connected February 02, 2025.  (Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Hegseth told "The Ingraham Angle" that the president has talked astir different countries perchance being consenting to instrumentality successful refugees. 

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"We request caller ideas successful a spot wherever it hasn't been disrupted for a agelong time, truthful determination are radical that would beryllium caught off-guard. That's thing the president's consenting to manage," helium said. "But those of america that were determination astatine the property league were not amazed that he'd deliberation differently, due to the fact that that's what helium got elected to do."