Jordan’s King Abdullah Appears Tense as Trump Pushes Gaza Plan

Jordan’s King Abdullah II appeared visibly uneasy during his meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, as the American leader aggressively pushed his controversial plan to relocate Gaza’s population and place the enclave under U.S. control.

CNN and other international media outlets noted the king’s tense body language, frequent blinking, and careful wording as he sought to avoid direct confrontation with Trump. While Abdullah did not outright reject the plan in the Oval Office, he subtly deferred to an Egyptian-led alternative proposal.

"This is not a complex thing to accomplish," Trump told Abdullah. "And with the United States controlling that piece of land—a rather large piece of land—you will have stability in the Middle East for the first time."

Abdullah, in response, treaded cautiously. "I think we have to remember, there is a plan from Egypt and the Arab states," he said. "I think the point is, how do we make this work in a way that is good for everyone?"

Analysts noted that Abdullah strategically avoided any firm commitment while offering a humanitarian gesture: Jordan would accept 2,000 sick children from Gaza for medical treatment. Trump quickly praised the move, allowing Abdullah to sidestep outright opposition.

Following the meeting, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi reiterated Amman’s official stance, affirming that Jordan supports Gaza’s reconstruction without displacing its residents and remains committed to the creation of a Palestinian state.

"There is an understanding in the Arab world that Jordan and Egypt may agree to take in a few thousand Palestinians as a humanitarian gesture," Safadi said. "But the upcoming summit will firmly declare their rejection of Trump’s plan to uproot two million Gazans from Gaza."

King Abdullah later took a firmer stance on social media, posting on X: "I reiterated Jordan’s firm stance against the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. This is the United Arab position."

Caught between maintaining U.S. financial support and managing domestic pressures, Abdullah carefully navigated a politically delicate moment. His approach signals Jordan’s firm but cautious rejection of Trump’s plan while preserving diplomatic ties.

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