Trump pressures Jordan to accept displaced Palestinians; King Abdullah firmly opposes

WASHINGTON. Former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Jordan’s King Abdullah on Tuesday to accept Palestinians permanently displaced from Gaza under his controversial plan for the region. However, the Jordanian monarch strongly opposed the move, emphasizing his country’s unwavering stance against the forced displacement of Palestinians.

Speaking at the White House alongside King Abdullah, Trump reiterated his vision of transforming Gaza, devastated by ongoing conflict, into what he described as a “Riviera of the Middle East.” Despite widespread criticism from the Arab world, he defended his proposal, which would prevent Palestinians from returning to their homes in the besieged enclave.

“We’re going to take it. We’re going to hold it, we’re going to cherish it. We’re going to get it going eventually, where a lot of jobs are going to be created for the people in the Middle East,” Trump declared in the Oval Office, insisting that his plan would “bring peace” to the region.

King Abdullah later reaffirmed Jordan’s opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians, both from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, which shares a border with his country.

“This is the unified Arab position,” Abdullah stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all.”

Despite the Jordanian king’s strong stance, Trump asserted that both Jordan and Egypt would ultimately agree to house displaced Gazans, citing their economic and military reliance on U.S. aid.

“I believe we’ll have a parcel of land in Jordan. I believe we’ll have a parcel of land in Egypt,” Trump stated. “We may have someplace else, but I think when we finish our talks, we’ll have a place where they’re going to live very happily and very safely.”

Trump, who has previously hinted at the possibility of withholding aid from Jordan, denied using financial support as leverage.

“We contribute a lot of money to Jordan, and to Egypt by the way – a lot to both. But I don’t have to threaten that. I think we’re above that,” he said.

King Abdullah has long rejected any attempts to annex Palestinian land or force its people into exile. His visit to Washington marked the first meeting between Trump and an Arab leader since the Gaza proposal was introduced.

While their discussions remained cordial, Trump’s remarks placed King Abdullah in a difficult position, given Jordan’s deep historical ties to the Palestinian cause. Jordan already hosts more than two million Palestinian refugees, and concerns over their status continue to be a sensitive issue.

At one point during their exchange, Trump appeared to nudge King Abdullah into publicly agreeing to accept Palestinians from Gaza. In response, Abdullah cautiously stated that Jordan would do what is best for its national interests but confirmed that his country would take in 2,000 sick Palestinian children for medical treatment—a humanitarian gesture that Trump praised.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi later clarified the country’s position in an interview with state-owned Al-Mamlaka TV, stating that there is an ongoing Egyptian-led Arab initiative to rebuild Gaza without displacing its residents.

Trump’s proposal has introduced additional tension into an already volatile situation, particularly as Israel and Hamas navigate a fragile ceasefire.

Hamas announced on Monday that it would halt the release of Israeli hostages, accusing Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement. In response, Trump suggested canceling the ceasefire altogether if Hamas does not release all remaining hostages by Saturday.

“All bets are off,” Trump said on Tuesday, adding that he did not expect Hamas to comply.

Meanwhile, public opposition to Trump’s proposal remains high. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between February 7-9 found that 74% of Americans oppose U.S. control over Gaza and the displacement of Palestinians. The poll also revealed a partisan divide, with 55% of Republicans rejecting the idea and 43% supporting it.

As diplomatic efforts continue, Arab nations, including Jordan, are expected to present a counterproposal, aiming for a solution that prioritizes humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts without mass displacement.