Trump’s Gaza Power Play: Forcing Jordan and Egypt to Accept Ethnic Cleansing or Lose U.S. Aid

The Trump administration is reportedly pressuring Jordan and Egypt to accept the forced displacement of 1.9 million Palestinians from Gaza, using threats of cutting U.S. aid as leverage. This ultimatum, if true, underscores the long-standing perception in the Middle East that the U.S. effectively “owns” King Abdullah II of Jordan and Egypt’s leadership. Both countries have historically relied on American financial and military support, but at what cost? The question many are now asking is: what kind of blackmail or pressure is the Trump administration using to force these nations into compliance?

Jordan and Egypt have been criticized for not doing enough to help Palestinians as Israel continues its military assault. However, both countries have their own sovereignty and national security concerns. King Abdullah, despite facing U.S. pressure, intercepted missile attacks targeting Israel, a move that some see as an effort to maintain a delicate balance. Yet, neither Jordan nor Egypt has openly embraced the idea of absorbing nearly two million displaced Palestinians—an action that would effectively enable Israel’s ongoing ethnic cleansing of Gaza.

If Trump succeeds in coercing Jordan and Egypt into accepting this mass displacement, it would mark a dark turning point in U.S. Middle East policy. The idea that Trump or any U.S. administration could effectively “own” Gaza after Israel forcibly removes its population is deeply troubling. The strategic goal appears to be the permanent erasure of Palestinian presence in Gaza while maintaining U.S. control over the region through its allies. The real question is: do Jordan and Egypt truly need U.S. aid badly enough to comply with such an outrageous demand, or is there another layer of blackmail at play?

Regardless of the leverage being used, the implications are clear—Trump’s ambition to dictate Gaza’s fate after its devastation by Israel is not only immoral but also destabilizing for the entire region. If Jordan and Egypt concede, they will forever be seen as complicit in one of the most blatant acts of ethnic cleansing in modern history.