As the dust settles on Donald Trump’s election, Palestinians and others in the Middle East are grappling with the implications. While some fear an escalation of U.S. policies that heavily favor Israel, others cautiously hope for a fresh approach. During a recent visit to Palestine, Israel, and Jordan, I engaged with PA officials, activists, families, youth, and business leaders. Their reactions reflect a complex mix of frustration, resignation, and cautious anticipation, underscored by the enduring struggles and aspirations of the Palestinian people.
Palestine’s Reality: Frustration and Disillusionment
In Palestine, daily life is shaped by economic stagnation, insecurity, and restricted freedoms. Basic activities like travel highlight these challenges. For instance, my brother in Ramallah described the grueling journey to Nablus—a drive that should take just over an hour, but often stretches to seven hours due to unpredictable Israeli Army military checkpoints.
The infrastructure itself tells a story of division. Highways reserved exclusively for Israeli settlers encircle Palestinian towns, physically and psychologically reinforcing separation and control. On the ground, conversations with West Bank residents revealed widespread disillusionment. Many expressed skepticism that a Trump presidency would bring any substantive change compared to Biden.
“It doesn’t matter who’s in the White House,” one young man said. “We’ve endured Republican and Democratic administrations, and our reality stays the same.”
The youth, in particular, are vocal about their anger—not only at U.S. policies but also at their own leadership, which they see as disconnected from their daily struggles.
The Regional Perspective: Jordan’s Balancing Act
In Jordan, which has hosted the largest number of Palestinian refugees since 1948, the sentiment is deeply layered, shaped by shared history, kinship, and the enduring consequences of displacement. Palestinians and Jordanians are often described as one people divided by borders, with many families intertwined by marriage, lineage, and shared cultural heritage. This bond has created an emotional connection that influences public sentiment and political dynamics in Jordan.
The presence of millions of Palestinians has also placed significant pressures on Jordan’s economy, infrastructure, and social fabric, making the Palestinian cause a deeply personal issue for Jordanians. The 1948 Nakba and subsequent wars imposed more economic, political, and social burdens on Jordan than on any other country in the region. This shared history of sacrifice and struggle has fostered solidarity, but it has also highlighted the delicate balance Jordan must maintain as both a host country and a key player in regional politics.
Many Jordanians express growing anti-American sentiment, frustrated by U.S. policies they see as unconditionally supporting Israel at the expense of Palestinian rights. This sentiment is evident in Jordan’s political landscape, where the Islamic Action Front, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, secured 33 seats in the 2020 parliamentary elections. This success underscores the widespread popular support for the Palestinian cause and the influence of pro-Palestinian sentiment among the Jordanian public.
At the same time, Jordan’s leadership remains acutely aware of the country’s reliance on U.S. aid, which totaled $1.65 billion in 2023. Policymakers in Amman are unlikely to jeopardize this critical support, even as skepticism about Washington’s regional policies deepens. This delicate balancing act reflects the complexities of Jordan’s position—caught between its role as a steadfast ally of the U.S. and its unshakable ties to the Palestinian people and their struggle for justice and self-determination.
“We love the American lifestyle but can’t stand its policies in the region,” a café owner in Amman told me, reflecting the tension between admiration for American culture and disdain for its political stances.
What Could Trump’s Presidency Bring for Palestine?
Trump’s return to the White House could signal bold moves in the Middle East, many of which Palestinians fear could exacerbate their plight.
1. Israel-Saudi Arabia Normalization Deal
Trump is likely to prioritize formalizing a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. While this could redefine alliances in the region, it poses risks for Palestinians. Early reports suggest such a deal may require Palestinians to accept fragmented territories with limited sovereignty in exchange for symbolic concessions. This would further entrench Israeli control in Gaza and West Bank while allowing Saudi Arabia to bolster its leadership in the Arab world.
2. Economic Investment in Gaza
Trump’s administration could push for major financial investments in Gaza, but likely under conditions of international or Arab oversight. While this might alleviate immediate humanitarian crises, it risks sidelining Palestinian Authority leadership and framing economic relief as a substitute for political solutions.
3. Expansion of the Abraham Accords
Trump’s approach to the Palestinian issue has historically been transactional. Viewing it as a logistical obstacle rather than a moral or political imperative, he could push for Palestinian integration into regional economic frameworks under the Abraham Accords. This would force Palestinians to choose between compromise and further marginalization.
Palestine’s Crossroads
Palestinians now face a critical choice: whether to resist Trump’s potentially disruptive policies or leverage them for concessions. Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority appears ill-equipped for either approach. Internally divided and reliant on Gulf aid, it struggles to articulate a clear strategy.
Meanwhile, Arab nations, prioritizing their own economic growth and stability, often sideline Palestinian aspirations. Saudi Arabia, for example, has signaled a willingness to normalize ties with Israel before the October 7 war, framing the Palestinian issue as secondary to broader geopolitical concerns.
Palestinian youth, alienated from their leadership and international actors, feel increasingly trapped. “We live here or die here,” one young man from Jenin said, reflecting a generation’s despair. Yet amid the hopelessness, there is resilience. Palestinians have survived decades of displacement, occupation, and economic hardship.
A Double-Edged Sword for the Region
Trump’s audacious approach could accelerate transformations in the Middle East, but it also risks deepening the fractures at the heart of the Palestinian struggle. For Palestinians, the path forward depends not only on external actors like the U.S. but also on their ability to unify and assert their vision for a future rooted in dignity, justice, and self-determination.
As the region braces for the impact of Trump’s presidency, the stakes are higher than ever. The world will be watching to see whether Palestinians can seize this moment to redefine their narrative or whether they will be further marginalized in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
