Trump appears to falsely claim he’s been to Gaza – and says it could be ‘better than Monaco’

Donald Trump appeared to falsely claim he had visited Gaza before saying it could be rebuilt “better than Monaco” during a recent interview.

Trump made the remarks in an interview with the right-wing radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt. The conversation aired on Monday, which marked one year since Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage.

In the year since, the Palestinian health authority says Israel’s response has killed more than 40,000 people, displaced more than 1 million people and destroyed vast areas of Gaza.

Hewitt, appearing to reference this destruction, asked Trump if Gaza could “be Monaco” if it is “rebuilt the right way.”

“Could someone make Gaza into something that all the Palestinian people would be proud of, would want to live in, would benefit them?” Hewitt asked.

Monaco, a small enclave bordered by France, is widely considered one of the wealthiest and most expensive places in the world.

“It could be better than Monaco. It has the best location in the Middle East, the best water, the best everything,” Trump responded. “It’s got, it is the best, I’ve said it for years.”

Trump went on to say he had “been there,” in reference to Gaza.

“You know when — I’ve been there, and it’s rough,” the former president said. “It’s a rough place, before the, you know, before all of the attacks and before the back and forth what’s happened over the last couple of years.”

There is no record of Trump ever setting foot in Gaza, The New York Times reports. An anonymous campaign staffer told the Times that Trump was instead referring to Israel, which he visited in 2017.

The staffer then falsely claimed Gaza is in Israel, which it is not.

“Gaza is in Israel,” the