Trump warns Jordan and Egypt: Accept millions of displaced Palestinians or kiss U.S. Aid goodbye

Donald Trump has ignited a diplomatic firestorm with his latest proposal for Gaza, threatening to cut off aid to Jordan and Egypt unless they agree to take in millions of displaced Palestinians. His plan envisions a complete transformation of Gaza, removing its current inhabitants and rebuilding it as a glittering Middle Eastern hub—one that excludes its original residents.

During his White House meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah, Trump was pressed on whether he would follow through with his financial threats. He remained evasive, merely calling the king “a good man.” But behind closed doors, tensions soared. Jordan, which already shelters millions of Palestinian refugees, is unwilling to accept further displacement. The Jordanian royal court issued a stark statement rejecting any plan that involves annexation or forced migration.

Trump’s vision for Gaza—a region devastated by relentless conflict—has provoked outrage across the Middle East. His proposal, which involves relocating nearly two million Palestinians, has been condemned as both unrealistic and inhumane. Critics argue that it effectively erases any hope of a Palestinian homeland.

The uproar hasn’t deterred Trump. In a Fox News interview, he insisted that displaced Palestinians would receive “much better housing” elsewhere. However, he made it clear that they would not be allowed to return once Gaza was rebuilt.

His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has been dispatched to the region to push the plan forward. Rubio is set to meet with leaders in Israel, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Yet, his attempts at diplomacy appear shaky. When asked whether Palestinians would ever regain access to their homeland, he sidestepped the question, stating only that they would have to live elsewhere “in the interim.”

Arab nations are pushing back forcefully. Egypt’s Foreign Minister met with Rubio at the State Department, while Arab leaders have issued statements reaffirming their commitment to a two-state solution. They’ve made it clear: mass displacement is not an option.

Analysts are divided on Trump’s motivations. Some believe he is using his extreme proposal as a bargaining tool, a tactic to force Arab nations into negotiations. But Ahmed Aboudouh, an expert at Chatham House, warns that Trump’s approach has already caused irreparable damage. “If this was a negotiating tactic, it has failed. He has weakened U.S. credibility in the region,” he said.

Others see a different angle. Thomas S. Warrick, a former Homeland Security official, argues that Trump’s push has at least spurred discussions about Gaza’s future. “No one thought Trump would engage on this issue so aggressively. He has forced the world to take notice,” he noted. However, he admitted that Trump’s strategy would need “major adjustments” to be workable.

One undeniable truth remains: Jordan and Egypt hold the line. Neither country appears willing to bow to U.S. pressure, no matter the financial consequences. And with Trump doubling down, this standoff is far from over.