Trump pushes plans to claim Gaza and move Palestinians in a meeting with Jordan’s King: NPR

Mary Louise Kelly, host:

With Word of a Speen meeting in the Oval Office today – President Trump met the king of Jordan for the first time since his inauguration and also shocked the world for the first time since Trump by saying that the US would take over Gaza. Arab leaders have rejected this idea. But today Trump has doubled. He says he wants to move millions of Palestinians from Gaza so that the country can be redeveloped.

(Soundbite of archived recording)

President Donald Trump: Palestinians or the people who now live in Gaza will live wonderfully at a different location. They are going to live safely.

Kelly: NPR Witte Huis Correspondent Franco Ordoñez followed the meeting. He is here now with me. Franco, I try to imagine this. How is this taken over?

Franco Ordoñez, Byline: Yes, I mean, let’s just paint a photo here. I mean, originally this meeting with King Abdullah was supposed to be behind closed doors. But at the last minute a small group of reporters were brought to the Oval Office. And this was a very high-stakes meeting. Trump drove this idea to take over Gaza a week ago. And this was the first meeting with an Arab leader since he did. The two leaders sat side by side by the fireplace in the Oval Office. And Trump again stated that the US would take over the territory, but he would not give any details about how that would happen.

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Trump: We are not going to buy anything. We’re going to have it, and we’re going to keep it. And we will make sure there will be peace.

Ordoñez: He was also asked about which authority he should do this, and he just said Bot, American authority. Again, he was unclear about what that means.

Kelly: did King Abdullah seem to know what he meant? How did he react?

Ordoñez: Yes, the king kind of – you know, a bit, you know, relaxed. He let Trump speak a bit. He was quiet, maybe a bit uncomfortable. He sometimes seemed to fiddle. And when he spoke, he was certainly more careful. In the beginning he praised Trump and said he sees someone who can take the region over the finish line to bring peace and stability. And when he got the details, he actually insisted on everyone to slow down. He said it was important not to walk for ourselves. He said that Arab leaders are planning to meet in Saudi Arabia soon, discuss how they can work with the US and that they would bring that plan to Trump.

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King Abdullah II: I think it is the point is how we work this in a way that is good for everyone.

Trump: Right.

Abdullah II: Of course we have to look at the best interests of the United States, of the people in the region, especially for my people of Jordan.

Ordoñez: But he also announced that Jordan would have 2,000 children from Gaza who have cancer or are sick.

Kelly: Right. Just to fill in part of the context, Trump’s plan partly depends on moving Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan, also in Egypt. Yesterday Trump said he could take our help from those countries if they do not satisfy. Has that occurred today?

Ordoñez: Yes, President Trump was asked about this. He supported that threat a bit. You know, he called the relationship they have. He noticed on the generous plans of Jordan to have 2,000 children. But at the same time, Mary Louise, that he said that, he also made sure that he again emphasized that the US offer a lot of help.

(Soundbite of archived recording)

Trump: You know, I think we will do something. I don’t have to threaten with money. We do – by the way, we contribute a lot of money to Jordan and to Egypt, a lot for both. But I don’t have to threaten that. I don’t think – I think we’re up there. I really believe we are up there.

Ordoñez: To be honest, the fact that all this plays for cameras is very unusual. I mean, it’s just another example of Trump’s aggressive approach with really little attention for traditional back and forth of typical diplomacy. And it puts a lot of pressure on these Arab partners who don’t like this idea, but it is clear that they want to find a way to work with Trump.

Kelly: And just quickly this all plays with this cease -the fire, but looking in danger, this ceases -the fire between Hamas and Israel. How does all that factor keep Trump’s plan for Gaza?

Ordoñez: Yes, I mean, it stops -furen now looks very shaky. Trump repeated his deadline for Saturday and he made it clear that, you know, it is unclear what that means. But he said he didn’t think Hamas would reach the deadline.

Kelly: NPR Witte Huis Correspondent Franco Ordoñez. Thank you.

Ordoñez: Thank you.

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