WATCH: Trump’s Ultimatum - "Hamas Is Stalling Because Hostages Are in Dire Condition"

President Donald Trump hosted Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday, as he continues to ramp up pressure on Amman to accept Palestinians from Gaza as part of his broader plan to bring the territory under U.S. oversight and transform it into a Middle Eastern Riviera.

Ahead of the meeting, Trump was asked whether this coming Saturday remains the firm deadline for Hamas to release all hostages held in Gaza. The president nodded affirmatively. However, when pressed on whether he believes Hamas will comply, Trump was less confident.

"I don’t think they’re going to meet the deadline," he told reporters in the Oval Office alongside King Abdullah. "The hostages might still be there, but Hamas doesn’t even know where they all are. There’s a deadline for Saturday—I don’t believe they’ll meet it. They want to act tough? Let’s see how tough they really are."

On Monday, Trump had issued a chilling warning: if Hamas fails to free all remaining hostages by 12:00 PM on Saturday, the ceasefire should be scrapped, and the response will be "from hell." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later echoed this stance, reinforcing the severity of the ultimatum.

Trump claimed that Hamas is playing for time because the hostages they still hold are in "such terrible condition" that they are only releasing those who are relatively healthy.

"They’re stalling because the people they still have are in such bad shape," Trump asserted. "They’re only releasing the healthiest ones, and it’s causing an uproar." He then described those who had recently been freed as looking like "Holocaust survivors."

The president made it clear that he is no longer willing to accept hostage releases in small waves.

Trump suggested that areas in Jordan and Egypt could be suitable for displaced Gazans. However, King Abdullah responded that he would make decisions based on Jordan’s national interests.

"It’s not about where I want them to go," Trump said. "It’s about where we decide, collectively, that makes the most sense. Maybe Jordan, maybe Egypt, maybe somewhere else. By the time we finish these discussions, there will be a place where they can live happily and safely."

On the situation in Gaza, Trump painted a bleak picture:

"They only want to stay in Gaza because they don’t know anything else. But they don’t actually want to be there. They’re being killed at levels no one has ever seen. There’s no place in the world more dangerous than Gaza right now. No one would want to stay there if they had an alternative. It’s a death trap."

On West Bank Annexation: “It Will Work Out Just Fine”

When asked about potential Israeli annexation of the West Bank, Trump downplayed the issue:

"It will work out just fine," he said. "That’s not the topic we’re discussing today. It will sort itself out automatically. It’s in a good place. We’ve talked about it, others have talked about it with me. The West Bank will be just fine."

U.S. Aid to Jordan and Egypt on the Line?

Trump has also threatened to cut off U.S. financial aid to Jordan and Egypt—two of the largest recipients of American foreign assistance—if they refuse to accept Palestinians.

Beyond the immediate crisis, Trump has grand ambitions for Gaza’s future—one that involves American control and extensive economic redevelopment.

"We’re not going to buy anything," Trump clarified. "We’re just going to take it, secure it, and make sure there’s peace. No one will challenge it. We’ll manage it properly, and eventually, it will see massive economic development—perhaps the biggest project this site has ever seen.

"We’ll build great things there—hotels, office buildings, housing, and much more. We’re going to turn it into what it should have been all along… Civilization in Gaza has been wiped out. But we’re going to build something incredible—right along the coastline. It’s going to be a massive economic development project."

When asked what legal authority the U.S. would have to take control of Gaza, Trump responded simply:

"We can take Gaza under American authority."

He clarified that he would not personally be involved in its redevelopment:

"I had an amazing career in real estate. But if you’ve done what I’ve done over the last few years, you can do even bigger things as president."

The First Arab Leader to Meet Trump Since His Return

King Abdullah’s visit marks Trump’s first face-to-face meeting with an Arab leader since his return to office. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also attended, just a day after meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Atti.

Abdullah was originally scheduled to meet with Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, but Witkoff was in Moscow securing the release of American citizen Marc Fogel, who had been detained in Russia since 2021. Shortly after the White House meeting, it was confirmed that Fogel was safely en route to the U.S.

Following the meeting, King Abdullah reiterated Jordan’s firm opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank.

"I reaffirmed Jordan’s unwavering stance against the displacement of Palestinians," he said. "Rebuilding Gaza without forced displacement and addressing the severe humanitarian crisis must be a top priority for all parties involved."

The king also emphasized the need for a just and lasting peace:

"Achieving a fair peace based on a two-state solution is the only way to ensure regional stability. It requires strong American leadership. President Trump has been instrumental in achieving the ceasefire in Gaza. We expect the U.S. and all stakeholders to ensure it is maintained.

"I also stressed the importance of de-escalating tensions in the West Bank. A deterioration there could have far-reaching consequences for the entire region."

As the world watches the clock tick down to Trump’s Saturday deadline, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will Hamas comply and release the hostages, or is a new phase of escalation inevitable?