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U.S. President Donald Trump revisited his decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights during a Hanukkah speech, describing the move as swift, decisive and long sought by Israel.
Speaking at a Hanukkah reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Trump stated that the issue had been debated for decades without resolution until his administration acted.
"They’ve been working on it for 70 years," he said, adding that previous discussions often dragged on without results.
"Nobody ever did anything, but we did it, and we did it quickly," he added.
Trump said he came to support the move after briefings from advisers and then-U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
He recalled asking Friedman to explain the Golan Heights issue "in five minutes or less," saying he quickly understood its strategic importance.
"You need it so badly for so many other reasons. You need it for defense," Trump said, noting the area’s elevated terrain and its historical military value, especially before the era of advanced radar systems.
Trump suggested that even some of Israel’s most ardent advocates had not expected the step.
He said the late Sheldon Adelson, a major pro-Israel donor, never asked him to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights because it was considered “a step too far.”
Nevertheless, Trump said he proceeded with the decision after hearing repeated arguments from advisers, including Jason Greenblatt, who served as his special envoy for the Middle East.
After signing the proclamation, Trump said he later learned of the area’s potential economic value.
“Then I found out the value of it. Trillions of dollars,” he said, joking that he might have negotiated something in return had he known earlier.
Trump also praised figures involved in his Middle East policies, including Jared Kushner, calling him “a great fan of Israel,” and mentioned current U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and envoy Steve Witkoff, describing them as doing “a great job.”
The United States formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019, a move that broke with decades of international consensus and was welcomed by Israel but criticized by many countries and international bodies.
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