The President of the United States, Donald Trump has categorically rejected the two-state solution to the crisis in Gaza, stressing that the idea portrays “reward” for Hamas.
This was as President Trump met with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, and discussed differing views on the future of Gaza and Palestinian statehood.
France had initially joined the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal to officially recognise the Palestinian state.
Trump opened the bilateral meeting on Tuesday by praising Macron’s diplomatic efforts, saying that the French leader had helped him prevent global conflicts.
Trump said; “Emmanuel has actually helped me with a couple of the wars,” Trump said, in response to Macron’s recent remark that if the US president wants a Nobel Peace Prize, he should “put an end to the war in Gaza.”
When asked about Palestinian statehood, and his latest remarks, Trump pushed back strongly and declared that “it would be a gift to Hamas.
“Well, I think it honours Hamas, and you can’t do that because of October 7. You can’t do that. But we want our hostages back.
“You always have to remember, people forget October 7 was one of the most savage days in the history of the world,” Trump said.
In his response, Macron, who sat beside Trump, said that recognising a Palestinian state does not mean ignoring Hamas’ October 2023 attacks on Israel.
The Gaza war is an armed conflict in the Gaza Strip and Israel, fought since October 7, 2023, when the Hamas militant group attacked Israel, which has since launched offensive in the Gaza Strip in retaliation.
