President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the U.S, would “take over" the Gaza Strip with the U.S. in “a "long-term ownership position."

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that President Trump has not committed to sending troops to war-torn Gaza, and that he will not spend U.S. funds rebuilding it. Trump’s comments suggesting otherwise the previous day inflamed the region.

Although the president had been talking about the idea for weeks, there had been no meetings on the subject, and senior members of his government were taken by surprise.