Trump, Muslim leaders call discussion on Gaza ‘very useful’ at UN

Trump met with a group of Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, and they all came out saying the conversation on Gaza was “very useful.” That phrase isn’t earth-shattering, but it does suggest the door is still open for more talks at a time when even small steps matter.

Trump’s been using the UN stage to push for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and the return of hostages. He’s also been railing against the UN itself, saying it’s failed to deliver peace, and warning that recognizing a Palestinian state too quickly could play into Hamas’s hands. Those remarks didn’t sit well with everyone, but they set the stage for this meeting.

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Muslim leaders, from Turkey to Saudi Arabia and beyond, are not calling it “useful” because they suddenly agree with Trump on everything. It’s more about pragmatism. They want influence over what happens in Gaza once the dust settles. Whether that’s governance, reconstruction, or just making sure Palestinians aren’t cut out of their own future. And from a humanitarian angle, it’s getting harder for these governments to stay quiet while Gaza suffers, so showing up at the table is a way to push for relief and avoid being sidelined.

That said, the obstacles are glaring. Israel wasn’t part of this meeting, which makes any real agreement tricky. Palestinian politics are still split, with Hamas controlling Gaza and the Palestinian Authority struggling for legitimacy. And Trump’s own track record doesn’t exactly inspire confidence—he’s floated ideas in the past about relocating Gazans, which many saw as extreme.

Still, calling the talks “useful” feels like a deliberate signal. It means they’re willing to keep engaging, even if the trust isn’t there yet. In conflicts like this, progress rarely comes in dramatic breakthroughs; it’s usually a grind of cautious steps and guarded words. This was one of those steps.

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