President Trump is not looking to put boots on the ground in Gaza or force taxpayers to pay for its rebuilding, the White House said Wednesday, one day after he shocked the world by saying the U.S. might take control of the war-torn strip of land between Egypt and Israel.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Mr. Trump wants to strike a deal with Middle East partners to reconstruct the territory, with Palestinian refugees waiting in Arab nations like Jordan and Egypt while the rebuild occurs.

“This is an out-of-the-box idea. That’s who President Trump is. That’s why the American people elected him,” Ms. Leavitt said.

Mr. Trump announced during a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that the U.S. taking over Gaza — and relocating 2.2 million Palestinians to create a “Riviera of the Middle East” — was an option on the table.

The idea stunned Arab leaders and Democratic lawmakers, who said it sounded as if Palestinians who lived through the war would be ousted from their homeland. Others said it sounded like Mr. Trump was sponsoring the type of nation-building that he railed against throughout his political career.

Ms. Leavitt said Gaza had become a “demolition site” because Hamas launched terror raids on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and took hostages, prompting a bombardment by Israeli forces to rout the militants.

She said Mr. Trump hasn’t ruled out using U.S. forces in Gaza but made clear it wasn’t a preferred option. 

“The president has not committed to that yet,” Ms. Leavitt said when asked if American troops would be stationed in Gaza. “He is a peacemaker in chief.”

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.