US politics live: Donald Trump says US should ‘take over’ Gaza Strip, Palestinians should ‘leave’

Donald Trump has revealed his plan for the US to take over the Gaza Strip in an extraordinary move that’s been likened to setting off a “political earthquake”.

US President Donald Trump has suggested the US will “take over the Gaza Strip” during a joint press conference with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The leaders met at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Mr Trump said.

Meanwhile, the President is gearing up to issue an executive order effectively banning transgender girls and women from participating in female school and college sports events.

White House officials familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal Mr Trump will sign the order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”, on Wednesday afternoon, making good on one of his biggest campaign promises.

Beijing has also imposed levies on imports of US energy, vehicles and equipment in a return salvo minutes after Mr Trump’s threatened tariffs on Chinese goods came into effect.

Asked if Mr Trump could halt the tariffs on China – as he did on Tuesday after discussions with the leaders of Mexico and Canada – the President’s trade adviser said it was “up to the boss”.

And the Senate Intelligence Committee and Senate Finance Committee have, respectively, voted to advance the nominations of Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence and Robert F Kennedy Jr to head up the Department of Health and Human Services.

Read on for the latest updates

Originally published as US politics live: Donald Trump says US should ‘take over’ Gaza Strip, Palestinians should ‘leave’