The Evening: Trump says Palestinians should leave Gaza

Also, China swiftly countered Trump's tariffs.

View in browser|nytimes.com February 4, 2025 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Tuesday. Trump's meeting with Netanyahu China's response to Trump's tariffs Plus, 25 years of The Sims Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel met with President Trump in the Oval Office.  Eric Lee/The New York Times Trump said Palestinians had no choice but to leave Gaza President Trump declared today that Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip have "no alternative" but to leave the enclave because of the devastation wrought there by Israel in its war with Hamas. Trump suggested that Jordan and Egypt should take in the Palestinians. "I don't know how they could want to stay," the president said. "It's a demolition site. It's a pure demolition site." Trump tried to frame the matter as a humanitarian imperative. But neither Egypt nor Jordan wants large numbers of Palestinians, nor is it clear that Gazans would willingly abandon the enclave they have spent years defending. The president suggested the U.S. could help Palestinians "find the right piece of land" and "build them some really nice places." He said he envisions it being a permanent relocation: "I don't think people should be going back to Gaza," Trump said. "Gaza is not a place for people to be living." Trump made the comments shortly before a White House meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel — the president's first in-person meeting with another world leader since returning to power two weeks ago. The two leaders were expected to talk about the next stage of a cease-fire in the Gaza war, Iran's efforts to build a nuclear weapon and hopes for a deal to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia. Trump and Netanyahu are set to hold a joint news conference. Follow for updates. In the West Bank, two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting attack as Israel pressed ahead with a military operation there. Yangshan Port in Shanghai. The New York Times China swiftly countered Trump's tariffs Beijing struck back at the U.S. this morning, just moments after Trump's 10 percent tariff on all Chinese products took effect. The Chinese imposed a series of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, including gas, coal, farm machinery and other products. It also opened an antitrust investigation into Google. Trade experts suggested that China's response was carefully calibrated to do little short-term damage while hinting at the full range of actions it could take against the U.S. should the trade dispute intensify. China's tariffs will not take effect until Feb. 10, leaving a week for the two sides to strike a deal — similar to what Canada and Mexico achieved yesterday, through different routes. The White House said again today that a call between Trump and China's leader, Xi Jinping, was being scheduled. The president has suggested that he is using the tariffs as leverage to provoke China to do more in the fight against fentanyl. In other politics news: A Senate panel approved one of Trump's most contentious nominees, Tulsi Gabbard, as his director of national intelligence, setting up a full Senate vote. Earlier in the day, a separate Senate committee voted along party lines to advance the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the full Senate. Two sets of F.B.I. agents who investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack filed lawsuits to prevent the Trump administration from disclosing their identities. The bureau's acting director — who was accidentally appointed — has become an improbable symbol of quiet resistance to political influence. Trump's attempt to freeze grant funding was blocked. But some nonprofits were still left reeling. Employees who were locked out of the U.S. Agency for International Development are bracing for significant cuts to the agency. Trump's policies could drain millions from universities. The schools have mostly been quiet. Elon Musk is waging a largely unchecked war against the federal bureaucracy. Here's an inside look. Josh Kraft, whose father owns the New England Patriots, said he was running as a Democrat against the city's progressive mayor. An Air Force transport plane preparing to deport migrants to Guatemala last week. Paul Ratje for The New York Times The U.S. began sending migrants to Guantánamo The White House press secretary confirmed today that an operation to send migrants to Guantánamo Bay was "underway." The president signed an order last week calling for the base to accommodate 30,000 migrants. It marked a change in U.S. policy: The government has long held migrants it picked up at sea in a building at the U.S. Navy base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, but it has not flown migrants from within the U.S. to the base. In related news, the president of El Salvador offered to jail convicted criminals deported by the U.S., including American citizens. Police officers at the scene of the shooting in Orebro, Sweden, today.  Kicki Nilsson/TT News Agency, via Associated Press At least 10 were killed in a school shooting in Sweden A shooting today at an adult education campus in central Sweden left at least 10 people dead. The prime minister called it the worst mass shooting in the country's history. The suspect was among the dead, officials said. But the authorities released few other details, including the person's identity and a possible motive. Terror is not believed to have been a motive, but the police said it was too early to say for certain. More top news Britain: Medical experts raised new doubts about evidence used in 2023 to convict the nurse Lucy Letby of killing seven babies. Weather: Powerful storms have elevated the risk of flooding in Northern California, but they could bring beneficial rain to the Los Angeles area. Washington: These are the lives cut short by the Washington, D.C. plane crash. Business: President Trump has thrown out a lot of options for a potential sale of TikTok. Here's who could benefit. Covid: The U.S. is having its mildest Covid winter yet. Sri Lanka: Women were a driving force behind the protest movement that forced the president to flee in 2022. Now they're fueling a democratic revival. Storms: The way hurricanes take lives is changing. Data from Hurricane Helene shows how. Health: A leftist advocacy group whose members oppose the commercialization of psychedelics helped torpedo F.D.A. approval of MDMA-assisted treatment. Lives Lived: Tiger Woods announced that his mother, whose guidance and support helped propel him to golf stardom, died today. TIME TO UNWIND Timothy Norris/Getty Images 'Not Like Us' reinvented Kendrick Lamar. What's next? After winning all five of the Grammy Awards it was nominated for, Kendrick Lamar's single "Not Like Us" could be the centerpiece of this weekend's Super Bowl halftime show. That would be a career-defining moment for any artist. But for Lamar, it presents a choice. His high-minded lyrics made him a Pulitzer winner and a revered M.C. But "Not Like Us," a diss track accusing the rapper Drake of serious allegations, could become the signature track of Lamar's career. He could cement that at the Super Bowl — or, as a fellow rapper told my colleague Joe Coscarelli, decide that ignoring Drake would be the bigger diss. 25 years ago, The Sims turned players into gods Video game executives did not expect The Sims to be a hit when it was released on this day in 2000. It was a virtual dollhouse where players could raise families, build houses and cause disasters. But unlike popular games at the time, there was no clear objective. Now a quarter century later, more than 500 million people have played games in the Sims franchise. For the anniversary, we talked with Will Wright, the creator of The Sims, who explained that from the beginning the game was a sandbox for the American dream. Clara B. Martin Dinner table topics Urban sketches: Some travelers have learned that they appreciate their vacations more when they slow down and draw what they see. Performing through anxiety: The Kyiv Symphony's players are building new lives in Germany but wonder if they'll ever go home. On the runway: Marc Jacobs played with extremes. His latest show could be an industry pacesetter, our fashion critic wrote. Rehabbed reformatories: Old prisons are being converted into stylish apartments. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: These light and tender chicken meatballs come together in a snap. Watch: Our critic said that "Asura" is so good it makes other shows look bad. Read: Martha Stewart's first book has become so popular that it is set to be republished. Dine: New Orleans is an oyster town like no other. Consider: Our writer recommends public bathrooms. Seriously. Perk up: Experts suggested ways to beat afternoon fatigue. Compete: Take our quiz to see how well you know novels set in Africa. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Michelle Gustafson for The New York Times Supporting his team with a new jersey. Every day. Dave Bergner is wearing a Philadelphia Eagles jersey today. He will also wear one tomorrow. In fact, for the last 13 years, Bergner has worn a different Eagles jerseys every single day of the team's season. Some fans consider him a kind of good luck charm. This year, with Philadelphia in the Super Bowl, Bergner needed to go deeper than normal into his collection of 300 jerseys. He couldn't be happier about it. The only time his wife has talked him out of wearing one was for his nephew's wedding. Bergner settled for an Eagles necktie instead. Have a loyal evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Sean Kawasaki-Culligan was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Writer: Matthew Cullen Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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