WASHINGTON, Aug 1 — Former US President Donald Trump has taken a strong stand against close allies—Canada, the UK, and France—for their recent announcements supporting the recognition of a Palestinian state this coming September.
In a statement conveyed by his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, Trump voiced his frustration, particularly at Canada’s decision to back Palestinian statehood at a UN meeting later this year. For Trump, such moves are not just premature—they’re dangerous. He views them as rewarding what he describes as the obstructive actions of Hamas, especially as the group remains entangled in the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the unresolved issue of hostages.
Though Trump reserved his harshest words for Canada, he didn’t hold back when responding to announcements from the UK and France. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently stated that the UK will move forward with recognition in September unless Israel makes significant progress, including agreeing to a lasting ceasefire. In response, Trump, fresh off a trip to Scotland where he also met with Starmer, made his position crystal clear: “I’m not in that camp, to be honest.”
He was more dismissive of French President Emmanuel Macron, whose early support last week spurred momentum among other nations. Trump brushed it off by saying Macron’s stance “doesn’t carry much weight.”
Trump’s core concern is that recognition efforts are being pushed forward without Israel’s security concerns being genuinely addressed—and at a moment when Hamas, according to him, is still the main barrier to peace.
“This is not the time to legitimize Hamas by pushing ahead with Palestinian statehood,” Leavitt emphasized on behalf of Trump. “Doing so rewards those who are actively standing in the way of a ceasefire and the safe return of hostages.”
As global leaders prepare for the upcoming UN session in September, Trump’s remarks highlight a growing divide between Washington and its allies on the path to peace in the Middle East.
