Voters Strongly Oppose Trump’s Plan to “Take Over” and “Own” Gaza
On February 4, President Donald Trump called for the U.S. to “take over” and “own” Gaza, and transform it from a “demolition site” into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” A new Data for Progress survey examines voters’ responses to these remarks.
First, voters were asked if they support or oppose the U.S. taking ownership of the Panama Canal, Greenland, Canada, and Gaza, all of which Trump has expressed interest in the U.S. acquiring. Across the board, voters oppose the U.S. taking ownership of these areas, albeit to varying degrees.
The survey described how Trump called for the U.S. to “take over” and “own” Gaza, and transform it from a “demolition site” into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” After being informed that such a takeover would require forcibly resettling the roughly 1.8 million Palestinians who live in Gaza into neighboring countries, 64% of voters, including a majority of Democrats (85%) and Independents (63%), say they oppose this proposal. Republicans are more divided, with 46% in support and 43% opposed.
While Trump has claimed that no troops would be needed for his takeover plan, many military experts have argued that forcibly resettling Gazans would be met with armed resistance from Hamas, and a full takeover and reconstruction could require U.S. military personnel. Sixty-nine percent of voters oppose the U.S. sending troops to the Middle East to take ownership of Gaza.
These findings demonstrate the unpopularity of President Trump’s stated intention for the U.S. to take ownership of various areas across the globe, especially Canada and Gaza. A strong majority of voters are opposed to the U.S. taking over Gaza and resettling the Palestinians who live there, and even more respondents reject the idea of the U.S. sending troops to the Middle East to accomplish this plan.
Survey Methodology
From February 8 to 9, 2025, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1,201 U.S. likely voters nationally using web panel respondents. The sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, geography, and recalled presidential vote. The survey was conducted in English. The margin of error associated with the sample size is ±3 percentage points. Results for subgroups of the sample are subject to increased margins of error. Partisanship reflected in tabulations is based on self-identified party affiliation, not partisan registration. For more information please visit dataforprogress.org/our-methodology.