'Gajaji-gu Plan' Devised Directly by Trump... Secretary of State Also Learned from TV

Only Middle East Envoy and White House National Security Advisor Were Informed in Advance
Republicans Who Met Trump Last Week Say "No Mention at All"

It has been reported that the plan by U.S. President Donald Trump to own Gaza Strip and relocate Palestinians has not been officially discussed within the Trump administration. CNN reported that until President Trump mentioned Gaza on the 4th (local time), the plan was not formalized in any document, and even officials within the Trump administration were shocked to see the announcement on TV during the press conference.

According to CNN on the 5th (local time), a Middle East policy advisor in the Trump administration said that he was unaware of the Gaza plan revealed by President Trump at the press conference the day before, and that several officials, including himself, were shocked by the announcement.

Another White House official said that the only people who were aware of President Trump’s Gaza plan beforehand were his closest aides, White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

Witkoff, a real estate businessman and golf friend of President Trump, reportedly visited Gaza last week and conveyed the devastated conditions caused by the war, expressing the view that the area is no longer habitable. A White House official told CNN that Witkoff’s perspective was “decisive” in the president’s decision to announce the Gaza plan.

Even Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly learned about the plan for the first time by watching President Trump’s press conference broadcast while in Guatemala. Since Witkoff’s appointment as Middle East envoy, Rubio has not been directly involved in Middle East issues. However, Rubio participated by phone in a meeting with Israeli officials held prior to the press conference. Afterwards, Rubio expressed support for Trump’s plan on his social media (SNS), stating, “The United States is ready to lead Gaza and make it beautiful again.”

Republican lawmakers who met with President Trump last week to discuss a Gaza ceasefire and Middle East issues were unaware of the Gaza plan, CNN reported. One Republican said that President Trump did not mention the Gaza plan at all beforehand.

Close aides said that President Trump’s Gaza reconstruction plan was devised by the president himself without consultation with experts. CNN noted that President Trump has typically developed major government policies based on his own ideas rather than expert proposals, and this Gaza plan reflects his characteristic policy style.