President Donald Trump is meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House Tuesday amid contentious discussions about relocating Palestinians.
President Donald Trump welcomed Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday, a visit that comes amid contentious discussions between the U.S. and Arab nations about relocating Palestinian refugees to Jordan and other neighboring Arab countries to rebuild Gaza.
Trump unveiled plans on Feb. 4 that the U.S. would seek to “take over” the Gaza Strip in a “long-term ownership position” to deliver stability to the region during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, Trump’s proposal prompted swift backlash from Arab countries, including Jordan, and Egypt announced plans on Sunday for an emergency Arab Summit to discuss “new and dangerous developments” regarding the resettling of Palestinians on Feb. 27.
At the White House Tuesday, Trump said that the U.S. isn’t interested in purchasing Gaza and promised to deliver peace to the region instead.
“We’re not going to buy anything. We’re going to have it and we’re going to keep it, and we’re going to make sure that there’s going to be peace, and there’s not going to be any problem, and nobody’s going to question it,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “And we’re going to run it very properly. And eventually we’ll have, economic development at a very large scale, maybe the largest scale on that side.”
When asked how he felt about Trump’s plans for the future of Gaza, Abdullah remained tight-lipped and said he would wait for the Egyptians to take the lead on a proposal moving forward as they negotiate with the U.S.
“I think let’s wait until the Egyptians can come and present it to the president and not get ahead of us,” Abdullah said.
Abdullah did reveal plans to accept 2,000 sick Palestinian children to Jordan.
“I think one of the things that we can do right away is take 2,000 children that are either cancer children or in a very ill state, to Jordan as quickly as possible,” Abdullah said. “And then wait for … the Egyptians to present their plan on how we can work with the president to work on the cause of challenges.”
Trump doubled down on his plans to “take over” Gaza in an interview that aired Monday with Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier and said that he expects Abdullah ultimately will choose to let in Palestinians.
“I do think he’ll take, and I think other countries will take also,” Trump told Baier. “They have good hearts.”
TRUMP NOT COMMITTING TO PUTTING US TROOPS ON THE GROUND IN GAZA, WHITE HOUSE SAYS
However, Trump also issued a warning that withholding aid to Jordan could happen should Jordan refuse to take in Palestinian refugees. The U.S. distributed nearly $1.7 billion in foreign aid to Jordan in fiscal year 2023, according to the State Department.
“Yeah, maybe, sure why not,” Trump said when asked. “If they don’t, I would conceivably withhold aid, yes.”
Trump welcomed Netanyahu to the White House on Feb. 4 and disclosed his plans to turn Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
“We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous, unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Trump told reporters.
“Level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area,” Trump said. “Do a real job. Do something different. Just can’t go back. If you go back, it’s going to end up the same way it has for 100 years.”
He also said “all” Palestinians would be removed from Gaza under his plan, although White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the next day their removal would be “temporary” during the rebuilding process.
Even so, Trump told Fox News on Monday that Palestinians would not return to Gaza under his plan.
TRUMP SAYS US WILL ‘TAKE OVER’ GAZA STRIP, REBUILD IT TO STABLIZE MIDDLE EAST
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill shared mixed reactions to the plan.
“I’m speechless, that’s insane,” Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., told Jewish Insider on Feb. 4.
However, Sen. Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., did not appear fazed by the remarks.
“I think he wants to bring a more peaceful, secure Middle East and put some ideas out there,” Thune told reporters on Wednesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
