President Donald Trump revealed on Saturday that he discussed with King Abdullah II of Jordan the possibility of relocating more than 1 million Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries, a controversial proposal from a sitting U.S. president.
During a conversation aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed his concerns about the current situation in Gaza, describing it as “a mess.” He urged King Abdullah to consider accepting more Palestinians, stating, “I said to him that I’d love you to take on more, because I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now and it’s a mess.”
Jordan’s state news agency, Petra, confirmed the phone call but did not mention any discussions regarding the relocation of Palestinians. The kingdom currently hosts over 2.39 million registered Palestinian refugees, according to United Nations data.
In addition to Jordan, Trump mentioned he would also speak to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi about the possibility of Egypt housing displaced people from Gaza. “You’re talking about a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing,” Trump noted.
The president highlighted the long-standing conflicts in the region, describing Gaza as “literally a demolition site right now,” where destruction and loss of life are rampant. He suggested that collaboration with Arab nations to build housing in other locations could provide a pathway for Palestinians to live in peace.
Trump, drawing on his background as a property developer, indicated that the proposed housing could be either temporary or long-term solutions for those displaced by ongoing violence.
The proposal has sparked significant debate, raising questions about the feasibility and implications of relocating such a large population amid complex geopolitical realities.