Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing from the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Shortly afterward, he issued a memorandum on Iran, saying Tehran was “too close” to a nuclear weapon.
Wednesday 5 February 2025 01:53, UK
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We’re pausing our live coverage of the goings-on in the US, but we’ll be back with you bright and early tomorrow morning.
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Trade war
Foreign policy
Domestic policy
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Donald Trump has said he wants Iran to be “peaceful and successful” and he would “love” to make a deal with Tehran.
He said he “hated” taking action against the country last time he was in the White House, adding: “They were essentially broke and they had no money for Hezbollah, they had no money for Hamas. They had no money for any form of terror.”
But he added: “I would love to be able to make a great deal, a deal where you (Iranians) can get on with your lives.”
He said he had “many friends from Iran and many friends that are Americans from Iran, and they’re very proud of Iran”.
The president went on: “I hope we’re going to be able to do something so that it doesn’t end up in a very catastrophic situation.
“I really want to see peace.”
He added, however: “They cannot have a nuclear weapon.
“If they can convince us that they won’t, and I hope they can, it’s very easy to do.”
Moving to the floor now for questions.
Donald Trump is asked about his earlier comments suggesting the US could take control of Gaza (see 00.02 post).
The US president is asked what authority would allow him to take over a sovereign territory.
Trump says he sees “a long term ownership position” which will bring stability to that area of the Middle East.
“This was not a decision made lightly,” he says.
“Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs.”
He continues: “I’ve studied it. I’ve studied this very closely over a lot of months, and I’ve seen it from every different angle.”
Benjamin Netanyahu says both he and Donald Trump are aligned in their thoughts on Iran.
“That’s the same Iran that tried to kill us both,” says the Israeli leader.
“They tried to kill you, Mr President. They tried through their proxy to kill me.
“We’re both committed to rolling back Iran’s aggression in the region and ensuring that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon.”
Benjamin Netanyahu now speaks, beginning with some words of praise for his US counterpart.
“I’m honoured that you invited me to be the first foreign leader to visit the White House in your second term,” he says.
“This is a testament to your friendship and support for the Jewish state and the Jewish people.
“I’ve said this before. I’ll say it again. You are the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.
“That’s why the people of Israel have such enormous respect for you in your first term.”
Netanyahu lists some things Trump has done to earn Israeli respect, including recognising its sovereignty over the Golan Heights and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.
Donald Trump now moves onto the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, where he repeats some of his earlier statements about wanting to permanently relocate them.
He says Gaza “has been a symbol of death and destruction for so many decades” and it should not go through a process of occupation by people “who lived a miserable existence there”.
“Instead, we should go to other countries of interest with humanitarian hearts, and there are many of them that want to do this and build various domains that will ultimately be occupied by the 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza, ending the death and destruction and frankly, bad luck.”
Trump says the US “will take over the Gaza Strip” and “we will do a job with it”.
“We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous, unexplored bombs and other weapons on the site.”
‘Level the site’
Trump says he wants to “level” Gaza and “get rid of the destroyed buildings”.
After this, he suggests creating “an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area”.
It’s unclear who he believes should fill this space.
Donald Trump says he believes more countries will sign up to the Abraham Accords he signed during his first term as president.
The Accords are bilateral agreements on Arab-Israeli normalisations signed between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, and between Israel and Bahrain, in 2020.
“I really believe that many countries will soon be joining this amazing peace and economic development transaction,” says Trump.
“It really is a big economic development transaction. I think we’re going to have a lot of people signing up very quickly.
“Unfortunately, for four years, nobody signed up. Nobody did anything for four years.”
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have now arrived for their news conference in the White House.
Trump begins by saying he had “fantastic talks” with Netanyahu.
He says the alliance between the US and Israel will soon be “stronger than ever”.
“We had a great relationship,” says Trump.
“We had great victories together four years ago, not so many victories over the past four years.
“However, in my first term, Prime Minister [Netanyahu] and I forged a tremendously successful partnership that brought peace and stability to the Middle East like it hadn’t seen in decades.”
Away from the White House, members of Mexico’s National Guard are heading to the US border as part of a deal agreed between Claudia Sheinbaum and Donald Trump.
Mexico’s president got Trump to pause the implementation of 25% tariffs on her country yesterday after agreements were reached on border security.
Sheinbaum said she was sending 10,000 soldiers to the US border immediately in return for a 30-day delay to tariffs.
Trump said the Mexican soldiers would be “specifically designated” to stop the flow of fentanyl into the US, as well as illegal migrants.
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