King Abdullah came to Washington to meet with President Biden on February 12, 2024. On February 11, 2025, a year minus one day later, the king was in Washington again, to meet with a very different president. While Abdullah, at his meeting with Biden, had offered some remarks that took issue with American policy, this time he did not dissent, even mildly, with anything Trump said, but sat quietly, aware that Trump does not take kindly to those who dispute or criticize him, and would certainly regard as base ingratitude any differing views publicly expressed by the leader of a country that is the third largest recipient of American aid.
More on how King Abdullah behaved in the presence of President Trump, as compared to his behavior in the presence of President Biden, can be found here: “Trump’s new Washington makes Jordan’s King Abdullah hold his tongue – analysis,” by Herb Keinon, Jerusalem Post, February
Jordan’s King Abdullah met Tuesday in the Oval Office with US President Donald Trump, almost exactly a year after sitting down with Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, in the White House on February 12, 2024.
The contrast between the two meetings could not have been more striking.
On Tuesday, Abdullah appeared noticeably uneasy next to Trump, shifting in his chair as the president expanded on his plan to take control of Gaza and relocate its residents, including to a “parcel of land in Jordan.” The king twitched as Trump spoke but offered little pushback.
When asked whether Jordan would accept Palestinians from Gaza, Abdullah sidestepped, deferring to what he said would be a forthcoming Egyptian and Arab plan to be presented later this month in Riyadh.
“I think we have to keep in mind that there is a plan from Egypt and the Arab countries. We’re being invited by Mohammed bin Salman to discussions in Riyadh,” he said, carefully avoiding a direct rejection of Trump’s proposal. Instead, he sought to placate the president by announcing that Jordan would “right away” take in 2,000 children from Gaza who either had cancer or were in a “very ill state.”
Intent on showing that while he rejects taking in large numbers of Gazans, he has a heart of gold, the King offered to take in 2,000 seriously ill children from Gaza for treatment. One wonders why he waited until now to make such an offer. He could have made it months ago. Or didn’t Abdullah care about those sick children at all, but right now offering to take them in is a clever move designed to show good will and, of course, to take the pressure off the King to resettle a million Gazans in Jordan.
“The main thing,” he added nervously, “is to wait for the Egyptians to present their plan on how we can work with the president.”
Abdullah did not challenge Trump’s plan publicly or contradict him outright. He sat there quietly, wary and restrained, notably refraining from criticizing Israel – something he has done frequently since the October 7 massacre in various international forums. Perhaps he understood that this administration would be far less receptive to these gripes.
That restraint was absent in his meeting with Biden a year ago. Then, Abdullah was more assertive.
In addition to their Oval Office meeting, Abdullah and Biden made statements to the press, and the king did not hesitate to voice disagreement with US policy. At the time, Biden was pushing for a six-week ceasefire, but Abdullah, in what The Arab Weekly news site described as “striking a discordant note with the US president,” went further – demanding a complete ceasefire. He openly opposed US policy and did so firmly.
Claiming four months after the war began that “nearly 100,000 people have been killed, injured, or are missing – the majority are women and children,” Abdullah said. “We cannot stand by and let this continue. We need a lasting ceasefire now. This war must end.”
What a difference a year — and a new president — make. In 2024, Abdullah was assertive, forthrightly stating his objections to the Biden policy vis-a-vis Israel, and demanding, after only four months of war, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza which the Bidenites had not endorsed. And a year later, here he was, Soglow’s Little King, sitting largely silent, as Trump imperiously declared what would be done in Gaza, setting out his vision for the future of Gaza without allowing for any further discussion of the matter. What a contrast.
The King, no doubt stunned at Trump’s just-stated plans for Gaza and for the people he intended to move to Jordan and Gaza, did not know — as Confucius says about moral and mental confusion — where to put his feet or hands. So he sat there, meek and mild, determined not to rile Trump in any way, and hoping that the Arab League would come up with an alternative to the President’s plan for Gaza that just might pass muster in the Oval Office, at the Resolute desk. At the very least, the rich Arabs will be expected to come up with the estimated $80 billion needed for the complete reconstruction of Gaza. If they can figure out a way to move the Gazans around within the Strip , so as to keep them away from whatever sectors are currently under construction, Trump might accept that plan. Might.
Cynthia says
The little king was definitely cowed. He will get his spunk back when he has the backing of Egypt and Saudi Arabia,. Sisi took a lesson from that and decided to skip the humiliation.
Unfortunately, Trump’s deadline for Israel is unrealistic if they want the few more hostages alive to be returned. They will have to go after Hamas at a later date.
Rarely says
It’s not always easy to know how to deal with a bully.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Your TDS is understandable, but if I were in your place, I’d at least not back all those regimes that want Israel to be under an eternal Damocles sword. Regardless of what I might think of either Israel or Netanyahu
Rarely says
What ever are you talking about?
Cynthia says
I definitely don’t back the Arab countries and wish all “Palestinians” would leave Israel. Israelis value every citizen’s life and have an unwritten code to rescue everyone, hostage and soldier. Everyone in that tiny, besieged country serves and depends on that protection.
I was just commenting on the reality of the neighborhood.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Rarely, I assumed that you were referring to Trump as the bully here, even though he’s made a fair demand of the Arab states
Cynthia, I got what you meant. I think it’s unfortunate that Israel is willing to release hundreds of live prisoners for an order of magnitude fewer live prisoners and dead. They should do what they can for the live hostages, but just eradicate Hamas completely, and anybody who dares obstruct them while they are looking for their dead hostages
James Lincoln says
Rarely,
Who are you identifying as being the bully?
Rarely says
JL
Who do think? There was only one bully in the room.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Rarely thinks it’s Trump, hence my reference above to him (Rarely) having TDS
Hugh Fitzgerald says
“Spunk”?
I take it you are not British.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Jordan obviously is in no position to accept any US proposal alone, particularly if other Arab/muslim countries are opposed to it. Which is why the king deferred his decision to the outcome of the Arab League summit. As Cynthia pointed out, Sisi took a hint and decided not to go
While Trump is now making moves to mend a rift w/ Moscow that’s long overdue, he is getting a new group of adversaries in the Arab/islamic bloc. In the case of Egypt, there are a few things the US could do to signal Sisi that he’d be better off doing what we want, rather than playing second fiddle to Erdogan:
⮞ Do nothing about any Houthi activity against Red Sea shipping, which will ensure that the Suez Canal remains closed, and Egypt’s largest revenue stream remains elusive
⮞ End all US military sales to Sisi, which does not have the same military needs that they did in the 80s, unless Cairo makes the Sinai a DMZ
⮞ Offer to recognize Gen Haftar as the legitimate leader in Libya, rather than equivocate b/w the Ankara-backed GNA and him. If Sisi sees his ally being supported in Libya, it would increase his comfort level w/ DC, as opposed to Ankara
The other thing that the US needs to do is signal the Arab League – maybe impressing on MbS and Sisi – that the Palestinians cannot be allowed to remain a Damocles sword hanging over Israel, and that any number of the Arab countries, b/w them, have to take them in. Ideally not Jordan or Egypt, but other countries like Somalia, Western Sahara. Oh, and make it clear that this has to be Arab countries, so that the Palis don’t find themselves as linguistic minorities in, say, a Turkey or Iran or Pakistan or Indonesia
Get all these things going, and the rest of them – the EU, Russia and even China – will fall in line
Tony says
Mr. Abdullah practices deceit as taught in Islam’s Quran and in Islamic Law while partnering with Muslim Countries against Trump. Islam is a deceitful and terroristic ideology(Quran 3:54; 7:99; 8:30 and more).
Like a Foreign Terrorist Organization(FTO) designated by the USA Secretary of State, Islam is a MUSLIM TERRORIST ORGANIZATION(MTO) to fight against Non-Muslims and NOT A PEACEFUL religion under Western Law because Islam funds, teaches, and promotes a Terrorist, Criminal Organization with Muslims as Terrorists for Allah. Under Islamic Law, it is a Crime against Allah for Muslims to neglect performing Islam’s Terrorism against Non-Muslims; Jihad means warfare against Non-Muslims to ESTABLISH THE RELIGION, ISLAM(“Reliance of the Traveller”, o9.0). More specifically, Islam is a Muslim Terrorist Ideology and Murderous, Criminal Enterprise of intolerance, continuous war, discrimination, segregation, supremacy, genocide, polygamy, propaganda, deceit, hatred, incitement, sedition, rape, terrorism, and violence against all Non-Muslims as taught in the Quran(Quran 2:216; 4:89,95; 8:12,39,74; 9:5, 21, 29, 36, 41, 49, 88, 111, 123; 21:92; 49:15 and more).
Non-Muslims CANNOT have peace with Islam and its Muslims because Islam and its murderous god, Allah, demand a continuous Muslim war, a religious duty, against unbelievers where Non-Muslims are CRIMINALS for making WAR ON ALLAH due to UNBELIEF when Allah in Qur’an 8:39 says, “And engage in war with them[Non-Muslims] until there will not be sedition and the religion will be completely to Allah…” HENCE, NON-MUSLIMS MUST MAKE ISLAM, ITS MOSQUES, ITS SCHOOLS, ITS ORGANIZATIONS, ETC. ILLEGAL UNDER THE LAW. Similarly, Islam and its many Organizations must be identified and publicly declared to be MUSLIM TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS(MTO) for their funding, teaching, and support of terrorism, violence, and discrimination against Non-Muslims(eg. Quran 9:5,29,111 and more).
The FRUIT of Islam is incessant WAR, terrorism, discrimination, slavery, malice, ISLAMIZATION, and violence against all Non-Muslims; this FACT must be taught and broadcast to the general public to prohibit Islam, its Mosques, its Courts, and its Schools(Islamic Law – Reliance of the Traveller, 9.0- and more). Also, Islam is an Antichrist System terrorizing Israel, Christians, and Non-Muslims(Quran 3:28,54; 5:51 and more). Plus, there is NO EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW in Islam or in Islamic Law(Quran 5:51; 9:29; 98:6-7 and more). In Sahih Bukhari(V6,B60,N80), Abu Huraira narrates, “‘You(Muslims) are the best of peoples ever raised for mankind.’ means, the best of peoples for the people, as you bring them[Non-Muslims] with chains on their necks till they embrace Islam[see Quran 3:110].” See also Quran 3:22,151; 69:30-32; 98:6-7.
Rabbi Menashe Bovit says
You are correct in all that you say. Unfortunately our guaranteed Constitutional freedoms also give cover to Islam’s effort at societal conquest. It’s doubtful that even the most conservative court would judge Islam as a criminal terrorist operation rather than a religion as we understand it.
James Lincoln says
Is it just me?
In the feature article picture, King Abdullah looks like he’s constipated.
Donna says
BULLDOZE GAZA!
BUILD USA MILITARY BASE
LET ISRAEL DEVELOP THE REST OF GAZA
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I actually like Trump’s idea of building a waterfront paradise for “international citizens”. It would be a good place to sell all the one-world globalists, who don’t believe in national borders, and the like. Move them all to Gaza, and there, let them live there w/o bothering people in the US or Europe who want to thrive
I think we should start winding down our military bases in Europe, and ramping down our NATO contributions. Today, I saw a chart that showed US paying 75% of NATO’s budget. No more: leave that to Europe. We can do a bilateral defense agreement w/ Israel, which is our only ally in the region
Other than that, she should shut down Ramstein, Incirlik and Udeid, and reposition them in, say, Taiwan, Phillipines and Vietnam
Rabbi Menashe Bovit says
While many of us are more than pleased and enthusiastic about Trump’s Gaza plans we need to keep a most important fact in mind. Trump will only be president for four years. Regardless whether it’s Vance or anyone else that runs in 2028 there’s no guarantee that the Democrats won’t find new and effective ways to steal another presidential election. Giving complete control over Gaza to the USA could mean the Democrats opening the door in four years to a flood of Arab-Muslim “Palestinians”. It must be clear that America can own land in Gaza but like every part of the Land of Israel, Gaza must be exclusively under Israeli sovereignty.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Rabbi
Good point
Keys says
Seconded!
Regarding the Rabbi’s point about the Democrats steeling another Presidential election from “Vance or anyone else that runs in 2028”: that “steel” will not only come through the ballot box.
Whoever the candidate is will also certainly face a relentless barrage of personal attacks including, as we have seen, by the media, politicized judges, frivolous lawsuits, false sexual and tax evasion accusations, security threats including to their families, home invasion, etc.
Trump’s will, intelligence, patriotism and wealth were/are extraordinary to overcome such vicious onslaughts. Are there any others who could weather even the fraudulent law-fare attacks?