President Donald Trump welcomed Jordan’s King Abdullah II to the White House on Tuesday, once again pushing his controversial idea of evacuating Gaza’s population, placing it under U.S. control, and transforming it into a tourist destination.
This ambitious but highly improbable proposal to reshape the Middle East would require Jordan and other Arab nations to take in displaced Gazans. However, after their meeting, Abdullah reaffirmed his opposition to such a move.
Their discussion took place in the Oval Office, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio also present. Although Trump had previously suggested withholding U.S. aid from Jordan or Egypt if they refused to accept more people from Gaza, he appeared to backtrack on that stance.
“I don’t have to threaten that. I do believe we’re above that,” Trump stated. This contradicted his earlier remarks, where he had implied that reducing U.S. assistance was a possibility.
When asked multiple times about Trump’s plan to empty Gaza and convert it into a Mediterranean resort, Abdullah refrained from making any concrete remarks or committing to taking in large numbers of displaced Gazans.
However, the Jordanian leader did express his country’s willingness to accept up to 2,000 ill or cancer-stricken children from Gaza “right away.”
“I finally see somebody that can take us across the finish line to bring stability, peace and prosperity to all of us in the region,” Abdullah remarked, referring to Trump during their meeting.
After spending about two hours at the White House, Abdullah proceeded to Capitol Hill for discussions with a bipartisan group of lawmakers. Later, he posted on X, stating, “I reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.”
“This is the unified Arab position. Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all,” he wrote.
Despite Abdullah’s firm stance, Trump used the meeting to once again suggest that the U.S. could assume control of Gaza. He claimed this wouldn’t require American financial contributions but insisted that placing the region under “U.S. authority” was feasible, though he did not elaborate on what that would entail.
“We’re not going to buy anything. We’re going to have it,” Trump said regarding U.S. control in Gaza. He envisioned constructing new hotels, office buildings, and residences, promising that the region would be “exciting.”
“I can tell you about real estate. They’re going to be in love with it,” Trump added, referencing his background in property development, while also maintaining that he had no personal interest in handling the redevelopment.
Trump has previously suggested that Gaza’s population could be relocated, either temporarily or permanently—an idea that has been met with strong opposition across the Arab world.
The former president also reiterated that a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel could be scrapped if Hamas failed to release all remaining hostages by midday Saturday. He first raised this point on Monday but acknowledged that Israel would ultimately decide on the matter.
“I don’t think they’re going to make the deadline, personally,” Trump commented on Tuesday, referring to Hamas. “They want to play tough guy. We’ll see how tough they are.”
Abdullah’s visit coincided with a critical period for the ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas has accused Israel of breaching the truce and has delayed the release of more hostages captured during its attack on October 7, 2023.
Following Trump’s remarks, Hamas issued a statement calling them “racist” and “a call for ethnic cleansing.” The group also accused the former president of attempting to “liquidate the Palestinian cause and deny the national rights of the Palestinian people.”
Trump has repeatedly proposed that the U.S. should control Gaza and transform it into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” His vision includes relocating Palestinians to neighboring nations without granting them a right of return.
However, his statements on Tuesday contradicted his previous stance on potentially withholding U.S. aid from Jordan and Egypt—two long-standing American allies and top recipients of foreign assistance—if they refused to accept additional Palestinians from Gaza.
Jordan already hosts over 2 million Palestinians, and its government has remained resolute in opposing forced displacement. Last week, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stated that his country’s stance on Gaza’s population transfer was “firm and unwavering.”
Beyond concerns over jeopardizing the longstanding objective of a two-state solution, both Egypt and Jordan have expressed private security fears about admitting large numbers of displaced Palestinians, even on a temporary basis.
Trump first outlined his plans for relocating Gaza’s residents and asserting U.S. control over the region during a press conference last week alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
At the time, the former president did not rule out deploying American troops to help secure Gaza but simultaneously insisted that no U.S. funds would be allocated for its reconstruction—raising significant questions about how his proposal could be implemented.
Following Trump’s initial remarks, both Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to clarify that his administration envisioned only a “temporary” relocation of Palestinians from Gaza. They claimed the move would allow for essential tasks such as clearing debris, disposing of unexploded ordnance, and reconstructing the region.
However, when asked in a Fox News interview on Monday whether displaced Palestinians would eventually be permitted to return to Gaza, Trump firmly responded, “No, they wouldn’t.”