A DBUNK subscriber recently submitted a fact check request regarding a claim made in an ABC News article authored by Nadine El-Bawab. The article asserts that former President Donald Trump “pushed for the forcible displacement of Palestinians” and implied that he planned to strong-arm Egypt and Jordan into accepting millions of Palestinians by threatening to withdraw U.S. aid.
Fact Check Findings
Upon review, this article presents multiple claims that lack proper context or misrepresent events:
Misinformation: Did Trump Demand Forcible Displacement?
The article states that Trump is actively pushing for the “forcible displacement of Palestinians” and alleges that such a move amounts to “ethnic cleansing.” However, there is no direct evidence that Trump explicitly advocated for the forced removal of Palestinians from Gaza as a formal policy. While he did suggest that Egypt and Jordan should “take them in,” the assertion that this equates to a structured and forcible relocation policy backed by active enforcement measures is not substantiated.
Misleading Context: U.S. Aid Withdrawal Threatened?
ABC News reports that Trump threatened to withdraw aid to Egypt and Jordan unless they accepted Palestinian refugees, but the article itself later contradicts this by noting that he walked back the statement within 24 hours, saying, “I don’t have to threaten that, I don’t think. I think we’re above that.” The article does not reflect the full progression of Trump’s stance, giving the impression of an ongoing threat when he quickly shifted his position.
Biased Framing: Suggesting a U.S. Plot for Annexation
The article quotes Daniel Drezner, who states, “The point of this is to ostensibly force Egypt and Jordan to accept all of the Palestinians currently living in the Gaza Strip, so … the U.S. can annex the territory.” However, there is no official proposal or policy from the U.S. government seeking to annex Gaza. This is speculation presented without qualification, misleading readers into believing that such an intention is established fact.
Clarifying the Reader’s Question
A common question sparked by this article is: If Egypt and Jordan are struggling economically, why would Trump think they could take in millions of refugees?
Both nations have historically resisted accepting large numbers of Palestinian refugees, citing economic strain and security concerns. Jordan, already home to a large Palestinian population, has taken in major refugee waves from Syria and Iraq, resulting in significant financial and social challenges. Egypt similarly faces major economic pressures, including inflation and currency devaluation.
Therefore, any expectation that U.S. financial leverage could compel them to absorb millions of new refugees overlooks longstanding regional dynamics and practical concerns. While Trump’s remarks may have been intended as a negotiation tactic, their feasibility in real-world geopolitics remains highly questionable.
The Bottom Line
While the ABC News article correctly captures regional pushback against Trump’s comments and the economic challenges Egypt and Jordan face, it also overstates elements of the story. The characterization of Trump’s stance as definitive policy rather than fluid rhetoric, the omission of his later retraction, and the presentation of annexation speculation as a factual claim all contribute to a misleading narrative.
Misinformation like this fuels confusion about real geopolitical dynamics. Stay informed and get the facts straight with DBUNK. Download the DBUNK app today to fact-check news in real time!
