Image source, Reuters

Turning again to the DC plane and helicopter crash last month, Trump says that "the odds of two things colliding in space is so small, we should have had proper controls in place".

He adds that the crew in the control tower at the airport were understaffed, adding: "I guess the helicopter was too high, but we'll find out what happened."

As a reminder, it remains unclear what caused the crash and an investigation is continuing to determine what went wrong.

Trump says a new computerised system for control towers will be put in place. He promises to "cut the old system loose" and "spend less money to build a great new system".

Continuing his address, Trump begins to talk about the fatal collision between a plane and helicopter in Washington DC on 29 January. There were 67 victims.

He says it reminds him of the attempt on his life last July, when a shooter fired on him at a campaign rally and struck his ear.

Trump talks for several moments length about the assassination attempt, before returning to the fatal crash. He says that the incident has reminded him that one could never know when their time would come.

"I feel even stronger," Trump said of his belief that God was involved in such events.

Image source, Reuters

As we've been reporting, Donald Trump is speaking at two prayer breakfasts this morning.

He's just stepped up to the podium at the first in Washington DC, where he thanks some of the senators in attendance, flanked by three US flags.

He begins by reflecting on the role of religion in the founding of the United States of America.

The president says the US will be celebrating its 250th anniversary in July next year.

He says that he intends to honour the nation's heroes and celebrate by signing an executive order for the creation of a new national park.

Image source, Reuters

President Donald Trump is speaking now at the National Prayer Breakfast.

He opens by saying it's "very beautiful".

"Our country is starting to do very well again, it's happening fast, a little faster than people thought," he says.

We'll update you on the key lines here. You can follow along by tapping thewatch live button at the top of the page.

Image source, Getty Images

It's a packed schedule for the 47th president this morning local time. Here are the highlights:

• The president started off the day at 07:35 (12:45 GMT), leaving the White House to make his way to the Capitol for the National Prayer Breakfast, where he'll say a few words. This is a relatively new venue, after the US Congress took over hosting duties two years ago
• He'll then make his way to a second national prayer breakfast, arriving at 09:00 (14:00 GMT)at the Washington Hilton hotel. This is a separate event hosted by the evangelical Christian organisation The Fellowship, which broke away from the official hosts in 2023, external
• At 11:00 ET (16:00 GMT), he's due to be back at the White House to meet Republican members of Congress to discuss the budget
• After lunch, he's scheduled to be in the Oval Office from 14:30 (19:30 GMT) to sign executive orders

The annual event, held on the first Thursday in February goes back to 1953, when president Dwight D Eisenhower was invited to join a prayer circle founded by Christian minister Abraham Vereide.

It's grown to become one of the most important political events on the Washington calendar.

In previous years, thousands of members of the American political establishment have met for a morning of eggs, coffee and prayer. This year, it's being hosted by Congress inside the Capitol.

According to the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation website, it is "an opportunity for Members of Congress to pray collectively for our nation, the President of the United States, and other national and international leaders in the spirit of love and reconciliation as Jesus of Nazareth taught 2,000 years ago".

Although all religious backgrounds are welcome, it is primarily a Christian gathering. Spinoff events are now held in other US cities and countries, including in the UK.

It's tradition for the president to speak, and we'll be hearing from Trump today.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

After his comments on the future of Gaza drew international condemnation, Donald Trump will give a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast event in Washington this morning.

An annual tradition, the event hosts the US president as well as members of the US Congress and other dignitaries in an opportunity to pray collectively for the United States.

When Trump addressed the 68th annual gathering back in February 2020, he reflected on his work "building the world's most prosperous and inclusive society".

While taking the stage, he also waved two newspapers at the crowd, both displaying headlines that read "acquitted" after Senate impeachment proceedings against the president had been brought to an end.

We don’t know what Trump will say during his speech, but we expect him to address his comments on Gaza - that’s after his Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to row back on suggestions that the US “take over” the territory.

You can follow the speech by pressing watch live on the top of the page - we’re expecting it to begin after 13:00 GMT (08:00 EST).

In the meantime, we’ll keep you up to date on everything Trump said about the future of Gaza, as well as bringing you the world's reaction.

Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent

The question of what to do about post-war Gaza has been a question that nobody has been able to answer.

Even PM Netanyahu has dodged it many times.

Despite the astonishing and unrealistic proposal of Donald Trump - a real estate developer turned president - he has opened up the issue on how to reconstruct Gaza.

He has constantly told his supporters he doesn’t believe in nation building or getting involved conflicts overseas so his plan is vague and full of contradictions.

But he also hasn’t really talked about what happens to Hamas and how to remove them from Gaza.

That is something many Arab nations would want to hear if they - and that’s a big if - they help in rebuilding the enclave.

Netanyahu has said the war won’t stop unless Hamas is totally destroyed - which defence experts say is unrealistic.

Image source, Getty Images

Spain and Ireland have hit back at Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz for suggesting the two countries are “legally obligated” to allow Gazans to enter their territory.

Reuters news agency reports an emailed statement from the Irish foreign ministry, that reads: “The objective must be a massive scale up of aid into Gaza, return of basic services and a clear framework under which those displaced can return.

“Any comments to the contrary are unhelpful and a source of distraction."

Meanwhile, Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares tells radio station RNE: "The place for Palestinians is Palestine and for Gazans it is Gaza.

“No one should enter into the debate about where the Palestinians and in particular the Gazans should go, because the debate is closed by them."

Tom Bateman
State Department Correspondent, Washington

President Trump’s latest social media post adds more detail to his plan for Gaza, meaning it’s possible to piece together more of what he is proposing - even though much of it remains vague and some elements have already been contradicted by his own officials.

He says that Gaza would be “turned over” to the United States by Israel at the end of the war.

The plan envisages that Israel would first expel all the Palestinians and the US would then become the occupying power.

However, he says this would be done without using any US troops.

The Americans “working with great development teams from all over the World” would then rebuild Gaza into “one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth”.

He has already said that the US would not pay for this - the reconstruction would be funded by other countries so that “the world’s people” can live in Gaza while most Palestinians would be “resettled… permanently” elsewhere.

Image source, EPA

Overseas, there's been a outcry against Trump's suggestion to "take over" Gaza, as among other things it would likely mean a serious breach of international law.

However, the idea has been better received in Israel.

Its defence minister Israel Katz has posted on X, external praising Trump's "bold initiative" for creating "extensive opportunities for those in Gaza who wish to leave".

"Countries such as Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others, which have falsely accused Israel over its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow Gazans to enter their territory," he adds.

Katz also says he's instructed the Israeli military to prepare a plan allowing "any resident of Gaza who wishes to leave to do so, to any country willing to receive them".

• For context, any forcible transfer of a population is explicitly prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention, external. The US is a signatory

Shortly before Trump doubled-down on his Gaza proposal, Foreign Office minister Anneliese Dodds told the House of Commons the UK “would oppose any effort to move Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab states against their will”.

Dodds says “Palestinians must determine the future of Gaza” and the UK government considers the enclave an “integral part” of a future Palestinian state “with Palestinians living next to Israelis in peace and security”.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated the UK’s position in his phone call with President Trump last week, she adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Donald Trump has reiterated his plan for a US "takeover" of Gaza.

Trump's plan - first announced on Tuesday night - was rejected by Palestinians and leaders around the world on Wednesday.

But the US president seems to have doubled down - here's what he has said on his Truth Social platform, external just now:

"The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting. The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region.

"They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free. The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth. No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!"

Chuck Schumer is the leader of the minority in the Senate, and a Democrat. In a speech last week, he criticised Trump for being "reckless and lawless".