CNN
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US President Donald Trump intended to transform the troubled Gaza Strip into a thriving “Riviera” community, offering upscale housing and facilitating the relocation of over 2 million residents. However, this ambitious plan faced a stark reality check.

This moment highlighted the significant difficulties confronting America’s Arab allies.

During a meeting in the Oval Office on Tuesday, King Abdullah II of Jordan met Trump as the first Arab leader post-election, with hopes that his presence could temper some of Trump’s more unrealistic ideas. Trump’s vision included the US acquiring Gaza territory, resettling Palestinian refugees in Jordan and Egypt, and replacing the ruins of Gaza with luxurious towers boasting Mediterranean views.

However, it soon became apparent during their joint press conference that Trump had no plans to modify his proposal.

Trump asserted, “I believe we will have a piece of land in Jordan, a piece of land in Egypt, and possibly elsewhere. By the end of our discussions, we will find a place where they can live very happily,” refusing to address inquiries concerning the US’s authority over the Palestinian area.

King Abdullah’s discomfort was palpable as he listened silently next to Trump.

Expected to diplomatically express the Arab world’s near-universal opposition to the plan, the king instead appeared to endorse Trump, describing him as a figure capable of guiding the Middle East “across the finish line.”

When probed about his stance on rehoming Palestinians, the king skillfully pivoted, revealing that “Egypt and the Arab nations” possessed an alternative proposal to disclose in due time, urging, “Let’s not move too quickly.”

“The king’s discomfort was evident in his body language and facial expressions… they were clearly not on the same page,” remarked Khaled Elgindy, a visiting scholar at the Georgetown University Center for Contemporary Arab Studies.

Up to that moment, Egypt had refrained from making any public claims about a counter-proposal. Following the conference, they released a vague statement about their intention to share a comprehensive strategy for Gaza’s reconstruction.

Concurrently, Arab social media erupted with backlash against the king, who faced scrutiny for seemingly yielding to Trump.

In a bid to mitigate the fallout, the king tweeted on X that he had “reiterated Jordan’s unwavering stance against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.”

“This reflects the unified Arab position. The priority should be to rebuild Gaza without displacing Palestinians and addressing the severe humanitarian crisis,” he stated.

However, many in the Arab community felt that the damage to his reputation had already been inflicted.

While Abdullah’s offer to accept 2,000 sick children from Gaza may have impressed Trump, it became evident that his visit didn’t sway the president’s intentions regarding Gaza. In fact, the weak opposition may have emboldened Trump even more.

“We’re going to acquire Gaza, maintain it effectively, and ensure there will be peace with no objections,” Trump declared.

Randa Slim, a fellow at the Johns Hopkins University Foreign Policy Institute, indicated that the king made a “misstep” by visiting Washington.

“If the aim was to persuade Trump to back off his plan, King Abdullah did not succeed—Trump doubled down. This visit also did not paint the Jordanian king positively in the eyes of his citizens, who oppose a plan he did not strongly contest publicly,” she remarked.

“On both regional and domestic fronts, it was not a victory,” Slim concluded.

The dialogue between Trump and the king underscores the fragile position of America’s Arab allies in the upcoming four years, especially for those like Jordan, which lacks significant natural resources to attract Trump’s attention.

As Arab nations scramble to formulate a counterproposal to Trump’s Gaza strategy, they are equally rushing to safeguard the fragile ceasefire agreement, now under threat after Hamas postponed a scheduled hostage release amidst claims of Israeli violations.

“If there is a positive takeaway from the chaos resulting from Trump’s remarks,” noted Elgindy, “it is that Arab states are now compelled to formulate their own more credible strategies, though this action is long overdue.”

“It took detrimental comments from Trump and potential ceasefire collapse to finally activate a response that should have occurred long ago,” he observed.

King Abdullah referred to a plan, still to be discussed with one of Trump’s close allies, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, potentially featuring a vision where Arab nations collaboratively rebuild Gaza, ensuring Palestinians remain, aligned with the two-state approach.

Nevertheless, specific details of the Arab plan are yet to unfold, and any delay could further embolden Trump. Egypt has announced plans for an Arab emergency summit by the end of the month.

For some Arab leaders, the hope remains that Trump will ultimately recognize the impracticality and unfeasibility of his plan, realizing that numerous obstacles would render it unworkable.

Even so, the responsibility will still rest on America’s Arab allies to devise a solution to this long-standing issue, and the king’s visit to Washington has hardly instilled confidence.

“They find themselves in a difficult position… needing to propose an alternative plan that appeals to Trump, involving financial investment he can sell as a success,” Slim concluded.

“Come on,” Elgindy remarked. “Is it possible that no one has a plan?”