‘Blackmail and Bullying’: How Jordan Faces Trump’s Pressure

Jordan is in a tough spot, there's no doubt about that, but it doesn't mean it has no options.
With Donald Trump's return to the White House on January 20, 2025, mounting pressure on Jordan sparks key questions about how Amman will navigate Washington's demands and what the future holds for their relationship in this shifting landscape.
Jordan has long been a strategic ally of the United States in the Middle East, receiving annual financial aid of $1.45 billion, according to the latest statement from the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 19, 2022.
Rising Pressures
Under Trump's leadership, the U.S. has increased pressure on Jordan, with the latest move being the suspension of annual financial aid to the kingdom. This decision is part of a broader shift to halt all foreign assistance programs funded through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
A statement from the U.S. State Department on January 27, 2025, explained that the suspension aimed to assess the effectiveness of these aid programs and ensure alignment with U.S. foreign policy. The review, which spans 90 days, will evaluate whether foreign aid contributes to the welfare of the American people.
On January 21, just after taking office, Trump signed an executive order halting U.S. foreign aid. The order calls for a review of all U.S. foreign assistance programs, including economic, social, technical, and humanitarian aid, to determine their compliance with U.S. foreign policy.
This move came despite a 2022 memorandum of understanding between Jordan and the U.S., which committed the U.S. to providing essential economic and military assistance of at least $1.45 billion annually from 2023 to 2029. In addition, U.S. Congress had approved an increase in aid to Jordan, expected to reach $2.1 billion by 2025.
In an unexpected move, Trump also ordered the immediate recall of U.S. Ambassador to Jordan, Yael Lambert, on January 25, 2025, after she had only been appointed in August 2023.
Trump's contentious stance also saw him propose relocating Gaza’s population to Egypt and Jordan, arguing that both should absorb more Palestinians amid the humanitarian catastrophe triggered by Israeli Occupation’s 15-month onslaught on the Strip.
On January 28, he stated aboard Air Force One that he had discussed with the Head of the Egyptian regime Abdel Fattah el-Sisi the possibility of relocating some Gaza residents to Egypt.
Trump also expressed hope that King Abdullah of Jordan would agree to a similar arrangement. In a phone call on January 26, Trump proposed relocating over a million Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries—a suggestion that has sparked major concerns in both Egypt and Jordan.

Available Solutions
In response to U.S. pressure, Jordanian expert Monther Howarat said Jordan is in a tough spot, there's no doubt about that, but it doesn't mean it has no options.
“Jordan is taking comprehensive steps to address these U.S. actions, and King Abdullah is currently in the EU to sign agreements and rally allies in support of the kingdom,” he told Al-Estiklal.
The expert highlighted the focus on arranging a meeting between King Abdullah and Trump to discuss the Palestinian issue, noting a clear misunderstanding and misjudgment on the part of the U.S. president. “Jordan expects this and is actively trying to address it.”
However, Howarat pointed out that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his right-wing government, and certain factions within the U.S. administration strongly supporting “Israel” have persuaded Trump to consider the Palestinian issue primarily as a refugee problem.
“The entire Arab world, including Jordan and Egypt, insists that the Palestinian issue is about the legitimate rights of the Palestinians, not just a refugee story that can be solved and forgotten.”
“The refugee issue arose as a result of Israeli occupation, so a solution must address the root cause, not just the outcome,” Howarat added.
“Palestinians are determined to stay on their land, and Jordan will not accept being a homeland for anyone other than Jordanians, regardless of their origin. Jordan remains steadfast in its support for the Palestinian people, even if that requires sacrifices,” according to the expert.
Howarat said the suspension of U.S. aid to Jordan is part of ongoing pressure to force Jordan to comply with U.S. demands, though he does not believe Jordan will yield.
“The $2 billion in U.S. aid also supports American military bases in Jordan, serving U.S. interests rather than Jordan's.”
“Jordan has alliances with the West in the fight against terrorism, which benefits both the U.S. and the world. Therefore, Jordan is not an intruder on U.S. policy. There is a strategic partnership between Washington and Amman in counterterrorism, and Jordan has paid a high price for that,” he added.
“U.S. aid should not be used as a tool to extort Jordan, though undoubtedly, its absence will impact the Jordanian economy, but the people will not perish without it.”
On the other hand, Howarat believes that “Jordan will maintain its stability and national identity, rejecting waves of migration that would cause demographic, political, and economic imbalances, which could ultimately lead to social unrest and destabilize the state.”
One option for Jordan, according to Howarat, is to “unite its people at home, control spending, seek aid from alternative sources, and secure funding from countries beyond the U.S. if it persists with this policy. Jordan is capable of facing this challenge.”
Following the suspension of U.S. foreign aid, the European Union announced a financial aid package for Jordan worth €3 billion for 2025-2027.
According to a statement from the Jordanian Royal Court on January 29, 2025, the European aid package includes €640 million in grants, €1.4 billion in investments, and approximately €1 billion in support for Jordan's macroeconomy.

Official Rejection
Although the Royal Court did not release an official statement regarding King Abdullah’s response to Trump during their call, Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad Momani stated on January 28 that “Jordan’s national security dictates the necessity of Palestinians remaining on their land, with no displacement of the Palestinian people.”
Earlier, on January 26, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi announced the country’s rejection of Trump's plan to deport Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, affirming that Jordan’s stance on Palestinian displacement “is firm and unchanged, and is essential for achieving the stability and peace we all seek.”
Safadi added in a press conference with the Acting Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, in Amman, that “the position to solidify Palestinians on their land is steadfast and will not change.”
“The solution to the Palestinian issue is in Palestine, Jordan is for Jordanians, and Palestine is for Palestinians.”
Likewise, on January 28, Senate President Faisal al-Fayez emphasized that while Jordan has faced major challenges, it has always prevailed. He reaffirmed that the country will stand by its national principles and firmly reject any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians into its territory.
Al-Fayez told the official Almamlaka channel that Jordan is confronting political and security challenges amid ongoing Israeli aggression and “expansionist policies,” along with concerns over proposed solutions to the Palestinian issue that might jeopardize the country’s security, stability, and national principles.

“The King has repeatedly emphasized that the solution to the Palestinian issue lies in Palestine, by enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state on Palestinian soil, with Jerusalem as its capital. Jordan's stance on displacement is firm and unchanging,” he said.
“I have no concerns about Jordan's future, given His Majesty's strong international relationships—especially within U.S. decision-making circles, including the Senate and the House of Representatives—as well as Jordan's deep-rooted ties with its Arab neighbors.”
“The recent turmoil, tragic events, and rapid developments in the region make it difficult to predict what will happen, or what new political, economic, and security challenges Jordan will face,” he added.
“These challenges are mainly linked to developments in Syria, scenarios for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the U.S. administration's positions on this conflict, its relations with Arab countries, and what settlement plans the U.S. administration will propose to resolve regional crises.”
Sources
- US State Department announces suspension of all foreign aid [Arabic]
- Trump reveals what he told the King of Jordan and what he will tell Sisi about his plan for the Gaza Strip [Arabic]
- $1.45 billion annually in US financial aid to Jordan [Arabic]
- Trump after speaking with Sisi: I think he and the King of Jordan will accept [Arabic]
- After Suspending US Aid: Europe Supports Jordan with 3 Billion Euros [Arabic]
- Senate: We will confront any attempts at forced displacement of Palestinians towards Jordan [Arabic]