January 21, 2026 | 12:21 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A viral narrative circulating on TikTok [archive] as of January 13, 2026, alleges that United States President Donald Trump intends to relocate one million Israelis to Papua. The post further claims that Trump is pressuring President Prabowo Subianto to immediately normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.
"Trump's plan to relocate one million Israelis to Papua is insane, pressuring President Prabowo to establish relations with Israel. If we refuse, what will America do?" the uploader wrote in the viral post.
But is there any truth to the claim that Trump plans to move one million Israelis to Papua?
FACT CHECK
Tempo verified the claim by monitoring authoritative sources and conducting direct inquiries. The investigation found no evidence to support the narrative that President Donald Trump plans to relocate one million Israelis to Papua, Indonesia.
Hartyo Harkomoyo, Director of Information and Media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dismissed the TikTok narrative as misleading. "It is not true," Hartyo told Tempo on Monday, January 19, 2026.
A review of the U.S. President’s official Truth Social account, @realDonaldTrump, revealed no statements regarding such a relocation plan. Furthermore, a keyword search on Google confirmed that no mainstream media outlets have reported or quoted any similar remarks from Trump.
U.S.-Israel Friction Over Gaza Executive Council
A recent report by The New York Times stated that the United States remains committed to the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. On Saturday, January 17, 2026, the White House announced the formation of the Gaza Executive Council to oversee the truce.
The committee includes senior Qatari official Ali al-Thawadi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. While an Israeli businessman is included, the council lacks official representatives from the Israeli government.
Israel reacted coldly to the U.S. decision. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement calling the committee’s formation contrary to its policy, though it did not elaborate. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously voiced strong opposition to Turkish involvement in post-war Gaza.
According to ABC, Israel’s right-wing National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, echoed Netanyahu’s stance, reportedly urging the military to prepare for a return to war shortly after the statement was released.
In contrast to the rumors regarding Israeli relocation to Papua, previous reports highlighted Israel’s efforts to move Palestinians abroad, including to Indonesia. In March 2025, Tempo reported on an Israeli proposal for a pilot program that would have seen 100 Palestinians settle and work permanently in Indonesia.
This trial was intended as an initial step to the relocation of thousands more. In response, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that it had never engaged in discussions with any party concerning the immigration of Gazans to Indonesia.
AP News reported on Donald Trump’s ambition to push for the normalization of ties between Indonesia and Israel during the November 2025 ceasefire. Trump urged Jakarta to sign onto the Abraham Accords—joining the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco—and recognize Israeli sovereignty.
A spokesperson for the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Yvonne Mewengkang, maintains that Jakarta remains firm: diplomatic relations will not be established without a guaranteed, sovereign Palestinian state. "Any vision regarding Israel must begin with the recognition of Palestinian independence and sovereignty," she stated.
CONCLUSION
Tempo’s verification concludes that the claim alleging United States President Donald Trump plans to relocate one million Israelis to Papua is false.
TEMPO FACT-CHECK TEAM
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