Gov. Josh Shapiro Blasts Trump’s ‘Deeply Disrespectful’ and ‘Unserious’ Gaza Proposal in Interview With Stephen A. Smith

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called out President Donald Trump for his “deeply disrespectful” plan to take over the Gaza Strip.

Last week, Trump — with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by his side — announced his intentions to “own” Gaza and turn it into the “riviera of the Middle East.” As for the Palestinians still suffering amid the conflict, the president suggested that neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt could take them in.

That proposal was largely criticized, with even loyal Republicans questioning Trump’s comments. In response, Trump doubled down when he bluntly stated that Palestinians would not be welcome back to the region even after it’s rebuilt.

In a recent episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, Shapiro called the plan “unserious” and added:

I thought it was an unserious proposal; I thought it was a proposal that, if he actually carried it out the way he said he was, violates international law; I thought it was deeply disrespectful to the Palestinian people; I think it doesn’t take into account Jordan and Egypt and how they’re gonna feel about it; and I thought it was wrong.

Look, I want these hostilities to end. I want all these hostages home. I’m someone who believes that there should be a two-state solution. I want the Palestinians to have a state that they can call their own. I want them to live peacefully, side-by-side, with Israel. I think what Donald Trump did was make that harder; and again, I thought it was really unserious and unhelpful at this time. You still got about a 100-ish hostages that aren’t home. Why would you do anything to upset that process now? Why would you do anything like that, that’s going to make it harder for those loved ones to be able to wrap their arms around those hostages, get them back from Hamas’s control? So, I didn’t think it was serious.

Look, I get this guy. He likes to make a lot of noise, likes to put a lot of stuff out there, throw a bunch of stuff up against the wall and see what sticks; and I’m sure we’re going to talk more about that. I just thought this was both unserious and unhelpful at this time.