Trump courts Jordan's king amid embassy, refugee concerns
WASHINGTON (AP) — King Abdullah II of Jordan's visit to Washington this week is testing President Donald Trump's ability to maintain key Arab alliances while cracking down on immigration from some Muslim countries and possibly moving the American Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Abdullah's trip comes as the Trump administration is embroiled in its first major Mideast controversy, sparked by Trump's executive order temporarily halting all refugee admissions and suspending entry to the U.S. for citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries.
The kingdom, fighting as part of U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group, is closely watching to see if Trump fulfills a campaign pledge to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Information Minister Mohammed Momani told The Associated Press it would be a "gift to extremists," threatening U.S. ties with Mideast allies.
During his campaign, Trump pledged repeatedly to move the American Embassy in Israel, a promise former U.S. presidents have made and broken.
Since his inauguration, Trump has backtracked slightly, with White House spokesman Sean Spicer saying the administration is only in the "beginning stages of even discussing" such a move.