Jordan’s King Abdullah met with President Trump on the White Home, the place they mentioned the contentious challenge of Palestinians leaving Gaza.
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
With phrase of a tense assembly within the Oval Workplace in the present day – President Trump met the King of Jordan for the primary time since his inauguration and in addition for the primary time since Trump shocked the world by saying the U.S. would take over Gaza. Arab leaders have rejected this concept. Right this moment, although, Trump doubled down. He says he needs to maneuver tens of millions of Palestinians out of Gaza in order that the land will be redeveloped.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Palestinians or the those who reside now in Gaza can be residing superbly in one other location. They will be residing safely.
KELLY: NPR White Home correspondent Franco Ordoñez was following the assembly. He’s right here with me now. Franco, I am attempting to image this. How did this go over?
FRANCO ORDOÑEZ, BYLINE: Yeah, I imply, let’s simply paint an image right here. I imply, initially, this assembly with King Abdullah was speculated to be behind closed doorways. However on the final minute, a small group of reporters have been introduced into the Oval Workplace. And this was a really high-stakes assembly. Trump floated this concept of taking on Gaza only a week in the past. And this was the primary assembly with an Arab chief since he did that. The 2 leaders sat subsequent to one another by the fireside within the Oval Workplace. And Trump once more insisted that the U.S. would take over the territory, however he wouldn’t give specifics on how that will occur.
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TRUMP: We’re not going to purchase something. We will have it, and we’ll preserve it. And we’ll make it possible for there’s going to be peace.
ORDOÑEZ: He was additionally requested about what authority he must do that, and he simply mentioned bluntly, U.S. authority. Once more, he was unclear about what which means.
KELLY: Did King Abdullah appeared to know what he meant? How did he react?
ORDOÑEZ: Yeah, the king sort of – you understand, sort of, you understand, laid again. He sort of allowed Trump to talk. He was quiet, maybe a bit of uncomfortable. He appeared to fidget at occasions. And when he spoke, he was positively extra cautious. He at first praised Trump, saying he sees somebody who can take the area over the end line to convey peace and stability. And when he received to specifics, he mainly urged everybody to decelerate. He mentioned it was necessary to not get forward of ourselves. He mentioned Arab leaders plan to be assembly quickly in Saudi Arabia talk about tips on how to work with the U.S. on this and that they’d convey that plan to Trump.
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KING ABDULLAH II: I believe the purpose is, is how will we make this work in a means that’s good for everyone.
TRUMP: Proper.
ABDULLAH II: Clearly, we have now to take a look at the most effective pursuits of the US, of the individuals within the area, particularly to my individuals of Jordan.
ORDOÑEZ: However he additionally introduced that Jordan would absorb 2,000 youngsters from Gaza who’ve most cancers or are sick.
KELLY: Proper. Simply to fill in a number of the context, Trump’s plan relies upon, partly, on transferring Palestinians from Gaza into Jordan, additionally into Egypt. Yesterday, Trump was saying he would possibly take away U.S. help to these nations if they do not comply. Did that come up in the present day?
ORDOÑEZ: Yeah, President Trump was requested about that. He sort of backed off that menace a bit. You recognize, he cited the connection that they’ve. He famous Jordan’s beneficiant plans to absorb 2,000 youngsters. However on the similar time, Mary Louise, that he was saying that, he was additionally ensuring to reemphasize that the U.S. does present loads of help.
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TRUMP: You recognize, I believe we’ll do one thing. I haven’t got to threaten with cash. We do – we contribute some huge cash to Jordan and to Egypt, by the way in which, rather a lot to each. However I haven’t got to threaten that. I do not assume – I believe we’re above that. I do imagine we’re above that.
ORDOÑEZ: Now, frankly, the truth that all that is taking part in out in entrance of cameras may be very uncommon. I imply, it is simply one other instance of Trump’s aggressive strategy with actually little regard for the normal forwards and backwards of typical diplomacy. And it is placing loads of stress on these Arab companions who do not like this concept, but it is clear they need to discover a strategy to work with Trump.
KELLY: And simply rapidly, all of that is taking part in out with this ceasefire holding however trying in jeopardy, this ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. How does all that issue into Trump’s plan for Gaza?
ORDOÑEZ: Yeah, I imply, the ceasefire appears to be like very shaky proper now. Trump reiterated his deadline for Saturday, and he made clear that, you understand, it is unclear what which means. However he did say that he did not assume Hamas would attain the deadline.
KELLY: NPR White Home correspondent Franco Ordoñez. Thanks.
ORDOÑEZ: Thanks.
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