Trump Claims $60 Million Food Aid to Gaza, Then Complains About No Thanks

Trump’s Claims About Aid to Gaza and International Reactions

US President Donald Trump recently made headlines by expressing frustration over the lack of recognition for the United States’ efforts in providing aid to people in Gaza. During a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Turnberry, Scotland, he addressed concerns about the flow of humanitarian assistance to the region.

Trump was asked whether Israel should do more to facilitate aid reaching Gaza. In response, he claimed that the US had provided $60 million in food aid to Palestinians in Gaza just two weeks prior. He emphasized that no one had acknowledged this contribution, stating, “You know, we gave $60 million two weeks ago and nobody even acknowledged it, for food.” He added that other countries had not contributed anything, which made him feel “a little bad when nobody talks about it.”

He went on to criticize European nations, saying none of them had given any aid. Trump expressed a desire for at least a “thank you” from those who benefited from the assistance. However, he did not clarify the source of the funds or the specific recipients of the aid. Earlier this month, The Guardian reported that the US had approved a $30 million grant to the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), raising questions about the transparency and effectiveness of such aid.

Humanitarian Efforts and International Pressure

In response to growing concerns over rising hunger in Gaza, the Israeli military announced a limited pause in hostilities in three densely populated areas—Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Muwasi. This tactical pause, lasting 10 hours daily, aims to allow more humanitarian aid to enter the territory. The move comes as international pressure mounts on Israel to address the humanitarian crisis and reduce its reliance on the GHF as the primary supplier of food.

Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have already begun parachuting aid into Gaza, signaling a shift in how aid is being distributed. Meanwhile, other aid organizations have accused both the GHF and Israel of using humanitarian assistance as a political tool.

Despite these developments, Trump did not directly address whether he believed there was no point in restarting ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. When questioned about this during his meeting with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, he shifted the focus to trade relations, emphasizing the importance of the recent trade deal between the US and the UK.

Trade Talks and Diplomatic Tensions

Trump highlighted the benefits of the new trade agreement, calling it “a great deal” for both the US and the UK. He noted that the UK had been trying to negotiate such an agreement for 12 years and now had a successful deal in place. While he did not confirm whether the UK would raise the issue of ceasefire negotiations during their meeting, he indicated that discussions about Israel would be part of the broader conversation.

During the meeting with von der Leyen, Trump appeared in a less-than-optimistic mood. When asked if his mood was related to his day of golf, he dismissed the idea, saying, “The golf was beautiful. Golf can never be bad.” However, he admitted that he was “not in a good mood” and suggested that the outcome of the trade negotiations with the EU remained uncertain.

He described the talks as having “three or four sticking points that I’d rather not get into,” but expressed hope that a deal could be reached. He estimated the chances of success at around 50-50, adding that if no agreement was reached, tariffs could be imposed.

Trump also mentioned that he expected to know within an hour whether a deal could be struck. His comments reflected the complex nature of US-EU trade relations and the high stakes involved in the negotiations.