Live updates: Donald Trump likens Gaza redevelopment proposal to ‘real estate transaction’

Earlier in the day, Donald Trump and the Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba had a photo opportunity in the Oval Office.

Mr Trump has been using these sorts of occasions as impromptu press conferences, so he took some questions there.

He was asked about his proposal, announced Tuesday night, that the US “take over” and redevelop the Gaza Strip.

When asked about it on Friday, Mr Trump said the US would view the redevelopment of Gaza as “a real estate transaction”.

He also provided a new detail, saying that Israel could provide “security” in Gaza.

I just need to lay a few things out here so you follow clearly, what is actually being suggested, in a chaotic week, because it’s quite a departure from previous US foreign policy.

• On Tuesday night, Mr Trump announced his proposal to “take over” the Gaza Strip and redevelop it.
• He also said that the almost 2 million Palestinians who live there would need to be relocated (some permanently, some temporarily).
• Over the next two days, he clarified that Israel would “turn over” Gaza to the US (it’s important to note that Israel doesn’t own the Gaza Strip), and that no US troops would be deployed in the area.

That naturally sparked questions about how the US would plan to redevelop the area without using military force.

On Friday, Mr Trump said the Gaza Strip would be “given to us by Israel”.

“They’ll watch it in terms of security,” he said.

It isn’t immediately clear what Mr Trump means by “watch”.

As part of the complicated ceasefire agreement struck with Hamas, Israel has been withdrawing its troops from Gaza.

Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba has been asked about Donald Trump’s tarrifs, and what would happen if they were imposed on his country.

Earlier on Friday, Mr Trump said he’d announce a fresh suite of tarrifs next week, but didn’t specify which nations they’d impact.

Mr Ishiba: “I can’t respond to a theoretical question. That’s the official answer that we have.”

Mr Trump: “That’s a very good answer. Very good answer. Wow, that’s very good. he knows what he’s doing.”

After the laughter stops, the press conference ends.

Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba is also at this press conference and has been asked about whether he’d like to see another meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.

Mr Trump met Mr Kim three times during his previous term, and in 2019 became the first sitting US president to step foot inside North Korea.

Mr Ishiba said while organising another meeting was a matter for the US, “now that President Trump is in power again, if we are able to move towards solving issues with the North Korea, I think it would be a good thing”.

Mr Trump also answered the question, saying he’d like to meet with Kim Jong Un.

“I got along with him very well, as you know,” he told the press pack.

Questions have begun in the press conference.

Mr Trump has been asked about a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee who resigned after being linked to racist posts on social media.

Earlier today, Vice-President JD Vance took to social media to say the staff member in question should get his job back, but clarified to say that he did not personally agree with the posts.

“I don’t know about that particular thing,” Mr Trump said at the press conference on Friday, before going on to say that he agreed with the vice-president.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that an account on the social media platform X linked to someone called Marko Elez had last year published posts declaring “I was racist before it was cool” and “normalise Indian hate”.

The 25-year-old resigned from DOGE yesterday.

He’s formerly worked for Elon Musk’s companies SpaceX and X. Mr Musk has been charged with co-running the DOGE.

DOGE is supposed to be reviewing and slashing public spending.

JD Vance put this out on X earlier:

Donald Trump is holding a press conference with Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba right now at the White House.

At the moment, he’s detailing plans for the countries to deepen economic ties.

He’s says the US has a trade deficit with Japan and that “we need to work that out”.

Mr Trump says Japanese car manufacturers will be doing “exciting” things in the US. He described Nissan as “a very great company”.

Mr Trump has also described Mr Ishiba as having “qualities of greatness”.

Good morning Australia, where many of you will have started your weekend. Alas, I am still working here in Washington.

It’s been another busy day in the US capital, but President Donald Trump will leave the White House later today (it’s still Friday here) and head back down to his Mar-a-Lago base in Palm Beach.

Today he’s met with the Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba and provided some more detail about his proposal to redevelop the Gaza Strip, including likening it to a “real estate transaction”.

He’s also promised to announce more tarrifs next week, although did not specify which countries would be affected.

And, before he gets on the plane to Florida, he’s going to sign some more exeucitve orders, too.

Buckle up.