U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Jordan’s King Abdullah to accept Palestinians displaced from Gaza, as part of his plan for the U.S. to take control of the war-torn enclave. Abdullah rejected the proposal, stressing that no Palestinians should be forced to leave.
Speaking in the White House on Tuesday, Trump defended his proposal to redevelop Gaza into what he called a “Riviera of the Middle East”, arguing that relocating residents would bring stability and economic growth. However, the plan has sparked outrage in the Arab world, with critics calling it an attempt to permanently displace Palestinians.
King Abdullah reaffirmed Jordan’s stance, stating that the “unified Arab position” rejects any forced migration of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank. He emphasized that rebuilding Gaza without displacement should be the top priority.
Despite Jordan’s opposition, Trump insisted that both Jordan and Egypt would ultimately agree to host displaced Palestinians, citing their economic and military reliance on U.S. aid.
U.S. Assistance and Regional Tensions
Jordan, which receives $1.45 billion in annual U.S. aid, is currently affected by Trump’s 90-day foreign aid freeze. While Israel and Egypt were granted exemptions, Jordan’s funding remains under review. Trump denied using aid as leverage but noted that the U.S. provides “a lot of money” to Jordan and Egypt.
The meeting also put King Abdullah in a sensitive position, as Jordan already hosts more than 2 million Palestinian refugees. The Trump administration’s Gaza proposal has further complicated the regional situation, amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Trump warned that if Hamas does not release all remaining hostages by Saturday, the ceasefire could be scrapped, saying, “All bets are off.”
Meanwhile, a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between February 7-9 found that 74% of Americans oppose the idea of the U.S. taking control of Gaza and relocating its residents, with Republicans divided on the issue.
The Jordanian foreign minister later confirmed that an Egyptian-led Arab plan was being prepared to rebuild Gaza without displacement, signaling a growing pushback against Trump’s proposal.
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