President Donald Trump floated an unorthodox idea this week about the U.S. taking control of the Gaza Strip to help rebuild that devastated Palestinian territory once the Hamas-started war against Israel has concluded.

The idea was strongly condemned by many allied and rival nations, some Republicans, and most Democrats -- save for Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who said the admittedly "provocative" idea was "part of the conversation" and worth considering, according to The Hill.

The Democratic Pennsylvania senator, unlike most of his Democratic colleagues, has been an unabashed supporter of Israel in its conflict with Hamas and has previously signaled an openness to working with Trump, also unquestionably in Israel's corner, on areas of common ground.

Trump suggests U.S. control of Gaza rebuilding effort

During a Tuesday press conference at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump outlined his idea for eventual U.S. involvement in the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip, where millions of Palestinians have lived for decades under Hamas control.

According to The Guardian, Trump said of Gaza that the U.S. "will own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site," as well as that the U.S. would lead efforts to clean up all of the destroyed buildings and rubble and "create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area."

As for the nearly two million Palestinians who call Gaza home, Trump suggested they could be relocated to neighboring Arab countries while Gaza was transformed into the "Riviera of the Middle East," and further indicated that U.S. troops could be deployed if "necessary" to help achieve the stated goals.

Fetterman not entirely opposed to the idea

As noted, President Trump's ideas about Gaza were roundly condemned by allies and foes alike, with The Hill reporting that some Democrats have even raised the possibility of impeaching Trump over what they likened to the U.S.-sponsored "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians from Gaza.

Not all Democrats were reflexively opposed to the idea, however, as Jewish Insider spoke to Sen. Fetterman and found that he was open to it, though he had several pertinent questions about how the U.S. takeover of Gaza might work in reality.

"It’s a provocative part of the conversation, but it’s part of the conversation, and that’s where we are," Fetterman told the outlet. "The Palestinians have refused, or they’ve been unwilling to deliver a government that provided security and economic development for themselves."

Referencing the Hamas attacks on Israel that launched the current Gazan conflict in 2023, the senator added, "They allowed 10/7 to occur, and now Gaza has to be rebuilt. Where are the people going to live? Where are they going to go? So, it’s part of a conversation with where they’re at right now."

As for the possibility of U.S. troops being deployed to Gaza, Fetterman wondered what they might be tasked to do but nonetheless expressed his support for American soldiers wherever they may be and told the Insider, "I don’t know what the role [of U.S. forces] is, but they’re obviously a part of it, and I fully support [it]."

Some clarification from Trump

Perhaps in response to those questions raised by Sen. Fetterman and others, President Trump seemed to clarify his position somewhat with a Truth Social post on Thursday morning that claimed, "The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting."

The Palestinian people "would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free," the president continued.

"The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth," Trump added. "No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!"