U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements regarding the displacement of Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt have sparked widespread official and popular rejection.
Speaking to reporters, Trump stated that Jordan and Egypt should accept more Palestinians from Gaza after the Israeli war on the territory created a humanitarian crisis.
Trump mentioned his conversation with Jordanian King Abdullah II, saying: “I told him I would like you to take in more [Palestinians] because I see Gaza in total chaos right now. It’s a real mess.”
Notably, these statements add further pressure on Jordan, following news of the suspension of U.S. foreign aid. The U.S. State Department recently announced a 90-day freeze on all foreign aid, excluding Egypt and Israel.
Jordan signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. in 2022 for $10.15 billion over seven years.
Jordan’s official response to Trump’s statements was swift. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, affirmed that the solution to the Palestinian issue lies within Palestine itself. He added: “Jordan is for Jordanians, and Palestine is for Palestinians.”
Safadi reiterated that Jordan’s position remains steadfast: the two-state solution is the path to peace, and any attempt at displacement is unacceptable and unchangeable.
Nevertheless, Safadi expressed Jordan’s willingness to work with the new U.S. administration and its efforts to achieve peace in the region.
A Replica of the “Deal of the Century”
Jordanian academic Badr Madhi, a professor of political sociology at the German Jordanian University, argued that Trump’s statements are not new but rather a revival of his “Deal of the Century” proposal from his earlier term.
Madhi explained that Trump consistently seeks to alleviate pressure on Israel’s far-right government by exploiting the so-called “demographic bomb” that Israel fears and counters through expansive settlement projects.
Madhi noted that Trump’s remarks came as a shock to Jordan and Egypt, two nations that have worked tirelessly to stabilize the region.
He highlighted Egypt’s efforts to resist the displacement of Gazans into its territory over the past 15 months, successfully preventing the depopulation of the Gaza Strip.
Options for Confrontation
Madhi emphasized that Jordan would strongly oppose any attempts to displace Palestinians to its territory—or even to Egypt—regardless of whether this is tied to foreign aid.
He pointed out that Jordan maintains excellent relations with key U.S. institutions, including the military and Congress, and would engage in extensive diplomatic efforts to counter Trump’s misconceptions.
Madhi added that Trump appears to misunderstand the region’s complex dynamics and the deep-rooted connection of populations—Palestinians, Jordanians, and Egyptians—to their lands, identities, and destinies.
He suggested that Jordan’s first step should involve bilateral cooperation with Egypt, followed by trilateral coordination with Palestine, to confront Trump’s proposal.
What Is Required from Neighboring Countries?
Rula Al-Hroub, Secretary-General of the Jordanian Labor Party and a Member of Parliament, stressed that the Jordanian government must persuade Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, to withhold major investments in the U.S. unless Trump agrees to declare an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Speaking to Arabi21, Al-Hroub stated that Arab nations must stand by the Palestinian people and contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza.
She added that Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, hold significant leverage over the Trump administration and Israel’s far-right government. The most critical leverage is Saudi Arabia’s refusal to join the Abraham Accords with Israel and the potential withdrawal of countries already involved in these normalization agreements.
Internal and External Openness
Al-Hroub called for internal and external openness in Jordan, emphasizing the need for domestic unity, greater freedoms, and an end to security restrictions. She also urged the cessation of all forms of security coordination with the Israeli occupation.
Externally, she proposed Jordan coordinate with the European Union, which “suffers under Trump’s oppressive policies” and will bear significant costs during his administration.
Al-Hroub suggested forming a global front against Trump’s policies, akin to the Non-Aligned Movement during the era of Egypt’s former president Gamal Abdel Nasser.
She also highlighted the importance of collaboration with major Islamic countries, including Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia, to present a unified stance against Trump’s plan.
Capable of Withstanding Aid Cuts
On the issue of foreign aid and its potential use as leverage by the U.S., Badr Madhi stated that Jordan could endure the loss of aid, despite its economic cost.
“Jordan has not received aid from Arab neighbors in recent years, yet the country managed to function at a minimal level,” he said.
Madhi acknowledged that U.S. aid is vital for Jordan’s civil society and government, but insisted that the country could survive without it, even if this caused significant economic challenges.
He concluded that Jordan could minimize its losses, especially if it expedited efforts to establish a Jordanian-Saudi-Syrian-Turkish alliance focused on trade and industry.
A Red Line Established by the King
Jordan’s King Abdullah II has repeatedly rejected any plans to relocate Palestinians to Jordan.
In his most recent remarks in September, he dismissed claims propagated by “extremists” in Israel that Jordan could serve as an “alternative homeland” for Palestinians. “This will never happen,” he said, describing the forced displacement of Palestinians as a “war crime.”
Addressing the UN General Assembly, King Abdullah II emphasized that “for years, the Arab world extended its hand to Israel through the Arab Peace Initiative, offering recognition and normalization in exchange for peace. Yet successive Israeli governments have chosen confrontation, relying on their impunity from accountability.”
