Trump hopeful Saudi Arabia will normalise ties with Israel

US President Donald Trump signed several crucial executive orders immediately after taking office on Monday, emphasising an "America First" agenda. He vowed to keep the US out of conflicts and expressed skepticism about the sustainability of the ceasefire in Gaza.

The 78-year-old Trump took the oath of office for the second time, having previously served as president from 2017 to 2021.

In his inaugural address, Trump criticised the Biden administration, blaming his predecessor for the country’s challenges.

“My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal,” he declared. “From this moment on, America’s decline is over.”

Adopting an assertive tone, Trump outlined his plans for a pro-business energy policy and a strict stance on immigration.

Regarding the Middle East, Trump distanced the US from the ongoing devastation in Gaza . “The Gaza war is not our war,” he stated. “It’s their war. I’m not confident [about the ceasefire holding], but they’re very weakened on the other side.”

He described Gaza as resembling a “demolition site” and suggested that the enclave needs to be rebuilt “in a different way.” Trump added, “Some fantastic things could be done with Gaza,” but criticised its leadership, saying they ran the territory “viciously and badly.”

He further said, “You certainly can’t have the people that were there. Most of them are dead.”

On foreign policy, Trump expressed optimism about Saudi Arabia potentially joining the Abraham Accords and normalising ties with Israel.