President Trump Urges Jordan To Accept Gazans, King Abdullah II Affirms Rejecting Transfer

King Abdullah II with President Trump. (Twitter/@POTUS)

JAKARTA - United States President Donald Trump urged the acceptance of Palestinians he would permanently move from the Gaza Strip, while King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein insisted on rejecting such an idea, when the two met at the White House, Washington DC.

Speaking together, President Trump signaled he would not give in to his idea of involving relocating the Gaza Strip and turning the war-torn territory into what he called the Middle East Riviera.

"We will take it. We will keep it, we will appreciate it. We will make it happen in the end, where a lot of work will be created for people in the Middle East," President Trump said in the Oval Room, saying his plans would " bring peace" to the region.

King Abdullah II later said he reiterated to Trump the Jordanian "firm position" of moving Palestinians in Gaza, as well as in the occupied West Bank which borders his country.

"This is a united Arab position," he said in an upload on X.

"Rebuilding Gaza without displacing Palestinians and overcoming a dire humanitarian situation should be a priority for all," he stressed.

Despite the views of his Jordanian counterpart, President Trump said Jordan, as well as Egypt, would eventually agree to accommodate the displaced Gazans. The two countries depend on Washington for economic and military aid.

"I believe we will own a plot of land in Jordan. I believe we will own a plot of land in Egypt," said President Trump.

"We may have other places, but I think when we finish our talks, we will have a place where they will live very happily and very safely."

President Trump, who has hinted at being able to consider holding back aid to Jordan, said he did not use support as a threat.

"We donated a lot of money to Jordan, and also to Egypt, a lot for both. But I don't need to threaten that. I think we are on top of that," said President Trump.

King Abdullah II previously said he rejected any attempts to annex land and displace Palestinians.

He was the first Arab leader to meet Trump since Gaza's plans were rolled out.

President Trump said permanent transfer of Gazans when he received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, followed by comments to take over Gaza and build it. That drew criticism from Palestine, countries in the region and globally.

Arab countries will come to Washington with a proposed reply, he said.

"The bottom line is how to make this work in a good way for everyone," he said, looking uncomfortable, without explicitly supporting or opposing President Trump's plans.