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Hidden Cities

King Abdullah’s False Promises of Reform in Jordan

The Western-backed monarch’s purported commitment to political liberalization doesn't match reality for Jordanians under his long rule.

Aug 14, 2026
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U.S. President Donald Trump greets Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House, February 11, 2025. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

By Aaron Magid

Aaron Magid is a former Amman-based journalist who has written for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and Al-Monitor. He is the author of The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan, from which this essay is adapted.

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