Facing Trump, Different Diplomacy Styles of King Abdullah II and Zelenskyy

Both heavily reliant on aid from the United States (US), both pressured to make decisions they do not favor, and both having to deal directly with US President Donald Trump, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have contrasting diplomatic styles.

Zelenskyy's straightforward and outspoken demeanor, as well as his unrestrained interruptions and rebuttals of Trump's remarks during their meeting in the Oval Office on Friday (28/2/2025), ended in a dispute and the cancellation of the agreement with the US.

Meanwhile, King Abdullah II's diplomatic style remained calm and elegant when dealing with Trump in the same room on Tuesday (11/2/2025). This approach resulted in Trump adopting a more conciliatory stance.

At the same time, with polite diplomatic statements, the King of Jordan indicated his disagreement with Trump's idea to relocate Palestinian residents from Gaza.

As a comparison to Zelenskyy, when in front of Trump, King Abdullah II was asked by a reporter about his response to Trump's idea of relocating Palestinian residents in Gaza. Without leaving "room" for agreement, King Abdullah II responded diplomatically.

Calmly, King Abdullah responded that he and other Arab leaders had been invited by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh to find the best solution for all parties. "We must consider what is best for the U.S., the people in the region, especially for the Jordanian people," he said diplomatically.

As an alternative, said King Abdullah II, one thing Jordan can immediately do is to accept 2,000 sick children from Gaza.

We have to look at what is best for the US, the people of the region, and especially for the Jordanian people.

The answer pleased Trump. “This is a very beautiful intention,” Trump said in response.

King Abdullah also had high praise for Trump. "I finally see someone who can take us across the finish line to bring stability, peace and prosperity to all of us in the region," he said in praise of Trump.

Trump welcomed the compliment. “It’s music to my ears,” he said.

Bringing Saudi Arabia into the fold was a clever piece of diplomacy by the King of Jordan. This is because Trump understands the importance of Saudi Arabia politically and economically.

The country was the first he visited at the start of his first term. Early in his second term, Trump spoke of the importance of the Kingdom, particularly as a valuable economic powerhouse for the US economy.

In the 30-minute meeting in front of the media, Trump continued to be fiery in talking about his plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. However, facing the calmness of King Abdullah II who was polite and diplomatic, he remained kind and was able to accept the answer of the King of Jordan who actually did not agree with the relocation of Gaza.

King Abdullah II never interrupted Trump. In fact, outside of meetings with Trump, he had actually firmly rejected the proposal.

A week before meeting Trump, since Trump first floated the idea, King Abdullah II had already made clear his disagreement. He said he rejected any attempt to annex territory and displace Palestinians from Gaza.

"His Majesty King Abdullah II stressed the need to stop the expansion of (Israeli) settlements, and expressed his rejection of any attempt to annex land and displace Palestinians," Jordan's royal court said in a post on X, a week before the White House meeting.

Today, Jordan hosts millions of people who are descendants of Palestinian refugees who were forced to leave their land in 1948. This event is known to Palestinians as the Nakba or tragedy.

Accepting Trump's plan could further inflame unrest inside Jordan. The country has already faced protests highlighting Jordan's dependence on the U.S. and Israel. The protests have escalated during Israel's offensive on Gaza.

King Abdullah II's meeting with Trump at the White House came a week after Trump floated his idea to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. Trump named Jordan and Egypt to provide land to house Gaza's roughly 2.3 million people.

Trump knows he is in a strong position to get both countries to do his bidding. Both Egypt and Jordan have relied heavily on U.S. foreign aid for decades.

Egypt has received more than $87 billion from the US since 1946. As for Jordan, the US now provides $1.72 billion a year in bilateral foreign aid.

Before the meeting with the King of Jordan, he had threatened to stop US aid to the two countries if they refused to accommodate Gazans.

Jordan's King Abdullah II's elegant diplomatic style has softened Trump's stance, at least for now. In the meeting, when asked if he still intended to withhold aid if Jordan and Egypt refused, Trump said no.

"I wouldn't say that. Because we have a very good relationship, just with this brief meeting. Jordan has made a statement that I never asked for, which is to rescue 2,000 children from the Gaza Strip," Trump said.

Only after the meeting with Trump ended did King Abdullah II reiterate his rejection of Trump's idea of evicting Gazans.

"Jordan remains steadfast in its opposition to the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This is a united Arab position," he said at X after leaving Trump.

But King Abdullah II's diplomatic approach in the meeting had softened Trump's stance. A few days later, Trump even asserted that the plan to move Palestinians from the Gaza Strip was merely a recommendation, not an imposition.

In contrast to King Abdullah II's diplomatic style, President Zelenskyy did not try to hide his discomfort when he heard Trump's criticism and encouragement to make peace with Russia.

He appeared to be able to hold his own as Trump railed against him, accusing him of having a “tremendous hatred” for Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I can’t do much when he has that much hatred,” Trump told the media, referring to Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy became increasingly displeased when US Vice President JD Vance suggested diplomacy with Russia. He questioned Vance's statement.

“What kind of diplomacy do you mean?” Zelenskyy asked after giving an explanation that accused Putin of violating previous agreements.

Afterwards, in front of Trump, Vance and Zelenskyy interrupted each other, contradicted each other, and made heated remarks.

Ignoring diplomatic etiquette, Zelenskyy folded his arms as he continued to rebut Trump and Vance’s statements. “How many times have you been to Ukraine to find out what problems we really have,” he told Vance.

Trump was heated and defended Vance. He launched more insults at Zelenskyy. He said Zelenskyy was ungrateful to the US, had no cards to play, and had no respect for the US.

“Your country is in a very difficult situation, you have nothing to dictate to the United States,” Trump said in a series of insults.

Zelenskyy did not want to lose. He denied several of Trump's statements before Trump finished his sentence. "Despite being across the ocean from Europe, the US will be affected in the future," Zelenskyy said, warning the US if Washington does not provide support to Kyiv.

"Don't tell us what we feel. Your country is in a very difficult situation, you can't dictate to the United States," Trump replied, pointing a finger at Zelenskyy.

Trump eventually cut the meeting short and threatened Ukraine to implement an immediate ceasefire or the US would withdraw support. Zelenskyy then canceled the rare earth metals deal with the US. He was actually invited to the White House to sign the deal.

A few days before the meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump had actually held separate meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The two meetings ended well, although both expressed disagreement with Trump's move to withdraw US support from Ukraine. Trump did not argue with them and remained cordial. Even when the two European leaders repeatedly corrected their statements.

Macron gently touched Trump's hand with a smile as he tried to correct him. Starmer corrected him in a calm manner without interrupting Trump's statement.

Trump apparently enjoyed Macron and Starmer's diplomatic style. He smiled and shrugged casually when Macron and Starmer corrected his provocative and incorrect statements about Europe.

Macron and Starmer's visit to the US is intended to persuade Trump to support Ukraine, which has been dependent on the US for arms supplies in its war against Russia.

Trump's sweet meetings with Ukrainian supporters were actually capital to smooth Zelenskyy's meeting with Trump.

However, the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting became a diplomatic disaster that further strained Ukraine-US relations.

The remarks also deepened a rift between the United States and Europe, which have discussed the possibility of sending troops into the Ukraine-Russia war if the United States actually withdraws its support. (AP/Reuters/AFP)