U.S President Donald Trump has reversed his threat to cut aid to Jordan after King Abdullah II agreed to accept 2,000 severely ill children from Gaza.
The development follows the two leaders’ meeting at the White House on Tuesday.
Trump also restated his vision for US involvement in Gaza’s future, while King Abdullah II refrained from commenting directly on the idea. Instead, he stated that discussions about the territory’s future would take place in an upcoming Saudi Arabia summit, subject to Egypt’s request.
During the meeting, Trump praised the Jordanian leader’s commitment to accepting sick children, calling it a “beautiful” act. “We contribute a lot of money to Jordan and to Egypt, by the way, a lot to both. But I don’t have to threaten that. I think we’re above that,” Trump told reporters.
Abdullah promised at the beginning of the meeting that the youngsters, many of whom had cancer or were in serious condition, would be sent to Jordan “as quickly as possible.”
Concerns over regional stability have been raised by the broad disapproval of Trump’s contentious proposal to turn Gaza into a US-owned “Riviera.” Despite their misgivings, Abdullah and other Arab leaders have been forced to interact with the US president.
Jordan had been expected to convey a unified Arab opposition to Trump’s plan, which critics have likened to forced displacement. Both Jordan and Egypt have already rejected proposals to relocate Gaza’s Palestinian population, with Trump previously referring to the violence-torn region as a “demolition site”.
Despite opposition, Trump has remained resolute.
Ahead of Abdullah’s visit, Trump had escalated pressure, suggesting he might withhold aid from Jordan and Egypt if they refused to accept Palestinian refugees.
However, he later walked back this stance, clarifying that he had no intention of personally investing in Gaza.
Jordan and Egypt remain key US allies and among the largest recipients of American aid, with Jordan particularly reliant, as US assistance accounts for 3 per cent of its GDP.
Concerns over regional stability persist, with Arab nations wary of broader unrest.
The conflict in Gaza, Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Syria’s ongoing turmoil, and internal security challenges in Jordan and Egypt compound the uncertainty.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia is reassessing its stance on potential normalisation with Israel.
Trump’s stance has added further unpredictability, particularly as Hamas delays the next release of Israeli hostages. He has warned that all remaining hostages must be freed by Saturday or “all bets are off, and let hell break out.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced this position, stating that if Hamas fails to comply by the deadline, the ceasefire will end and military action will resume.
Key officials sat beside Trump during his White House address, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
Trump described Gaza as a “death trap,” claiming that if given an opportunity, many Palestinians would be prepared to leave.
While a truce is officially in effect, its long-term viability is dubious as Hamas delays captive releases and Israel expresses its willingness to restart military action if criteria are not satisfied.
