What To Expect From Trump’s Meeting With King Abdullah Of Jordan

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are expected to meet with Jordanian King Abdullah II today at 11:30 a.m. ET in the Oval Office.

The leaders are expected to discuss Trump’s repeated calls for Egypt and Jordan to resettle Gazan refugees into permanent communities in their countries paid for by wealthy Arab countries.

The meeting comes just a week after Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and announced his plans to relocate Gazans and for the United States to take ownership of the Gaza Strip.

Both Jordan and Egypt have repeatedly refused the proposal publicly. Jordanian foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, said forcibly displacing Palestinians in Jordan would be a “declaration of war.”

“If there are any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians to Jordan, we will confront them with all our capabilities, and this is a declaration of war for Jordan, and we will fight,” Safadi said. 

Despite this, Trump has continually said he is confident a deal will be made, and threatened to cut aid to both countries if they do not comply.

The United States gave Jordan about $1.7 billion in foreign aid in fiscal year 2023.

Jordan, a majority Arab nation, is estimated to have a population that is about half Palestinian, including King Abdullah’s husband, Queen Rania. The Palestinian identity only emerged in the mid-20th century, largely in response to the establishment of Israel. Most of the Palestinians in Jordan today are descendants of refugees.

Jordan has been concerned that an increase in population may pose an existential threat to the country by engulfing it in conflict with Israel, despite the nations having a mostly stable peace treaty since 1994. The neighboring countries cooperate on intelligence sharing, counterterrorism, and border security.

Hamas suspended the release of hostages slated for Saturday until further notice after accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. In response, Trump threatened to let “all hell” break out if every single hostage is not released by noon on Saturday, breaking from the ceasefire that has had just a few hostages released per week.

“Not in dribs and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two,” he said “Saturday at 12 o’clock, and after that I would say, all hell is going to break out.”

Upon the return of Israeli hostages Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, and Eli Sharabi on Saturday, Trump was shocked by their frail appearances, comparing them to the sight of Holocaust survivors.

‘I watched the hostages return today, and they looked like Holocaust survivors,’ Trump said. ‘They were in horrible condition, emaciated. It reminded me of the Holocaust survivors from many years ago. I don’t know how much longer we can tolerate this.'”

An Israeli delegation arrived in Doha, Qatar on Saturday night to continue negotiations that Steve Witkoff, the President’s Special Envoy to the Middle East is mediating.

In Trump’s press conference with Netanyahu, the president outlined his plans for an American takeover of Gaza. Trump said the United States will be responsible for dismantling unexploded bombs and other weapons, demolishing and leveling destroyed buildings, and creating an economic development zone that will “supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.”

“I think we will be a great keeper of something that is very, very strong, very powerful, and very, very good for the area, not just for Israel, for the entire Middle East,” Trump said. “There will be jobs for everyone.”

Hamas, the terrorist organization that raped, murdered, and kidnapped over a thousand Israeli civilians on October 7, called Trump’s proposal for the United States to take over Gaza a “crime against humanity.”

“What President Trump stated about his intention to displace the residents of the Gaza Strip outside it and the United States’ control over the Strip by force is a crime against humanity,” a senior Hamas official told Fox News.

The official called Trump’s actions an “interference in a topic which should not be of his concern.”

King Abdullah, who already met with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, is also expected to meet with Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

On Monday, King Abdullah, 63,  met with Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy. The Jordanian leader attended Deerfield Academy, a private boarding school in Western Massachusetts. 

“Massachusetts is a global hub for life sciences, health care, financial services, technology and innovation, and so many other cutting-edge sectors,” Healy said about the meeting. “We were grateful for the opportunity to connect His Majesty with many of the incredible leaders who make Massachusetts’ economy so strong and vibrant, and we look forward to future collaboration in the years to come.”