Trump Presses Middle East Strategy, Warns Hamas at Davos

U.S. President Donald Trump delivered remarks on the Middle East on Wednesday as he opened the World Economic Forum in Davos, asserting that peace already exists in the region while issuing warnings to Hamas and outlining his administration’s approach to Iran and missile defense.

“If they don’t do it, they’ll be blown away very quickly,” Trump said, referring to Hamas and demanding that the terror group disarm. He said the coming days would determine whether Hamas complies.

Trump framed the war in Gaza as nearing a decisive moment, presenting disarmament as the final test for Hamas’ survival. Trump said Hamas had already committed to giving up its weapons, while acknowledging the difficulty of such a move. “Hamas has agreed to give up their weapons,” he said. “They were born with a weapon in their hand, so it’s not easy to do.” He warned that refusal would leave Hamas with no alternative. “If they don’t get rid of the guns, they’re going to have no choice,” Trump said. “They will be eliminated.”

Despite the ongoing fighting, Trump repeatedly asserted that the broader regional picture is stable. “We have peace in the Middle East,” he said, downplaying ongoing threats by describing them as limited challenges rather than systemic instability.

Trump referenced both Hamas and Hezbollah as problems that remain unresolved but contained. He suggested these conflicts do not contradict his claim that the region has entered a new phase shaped by U.S.-led deterrence.

Turning to Iran, Trump said U.S. military action had removed what he described as the primary obstacle to regional peace. He claimed American strikes destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities at a critical moment. “They would have had a nuclear weapon within two months,” Trump said, arguing that without U.S. intervention, regional normalization would have been impossible.

“Iran was the bully of the Middle East,” he added. “They’re not anymore.” Trump said the removal of the Iranian nuclear threat enabled countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and others to pursue diplomatic agreements without fear.

Trump also highlighted missile defense as a pillar of his regional strategy, promoting plans for an expanded ballistic missile defense system he referred to as a “Golden Dome.” He compared it to Israel’s Iron Dome system while emphasizing U.S. technological leadership.

“What we did for Israel was amazing,” Trump said, adding that the United States plans to build a far more expansive system for itself and allies. Recounting a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said he told him, “Bibi stop taking credit for the dome, that’s our technology.”

Trump said the coming weeks would determine whether Hamas follows through on its commitments. Warning of the consequences, he said, “If they don’t get rid of the guns, they’ll be very unhappy people.”