United States President Donald Trump hosts Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday, coinciding with the Treasury Department’s announcement that sanctions against Damascus would be extended for an additional six months
The visit marked a historic moment, as al-Sharaa, 43, became the first Syrian leader to visit the White House since Syria’s independence in 1946.
The former al-Qaeda commander, who overthrew Bashar al-Assad last December, has spent the past year reshaping his image and seeking to end Syria’s decades of isolation.
According to the Syrian presidency, discussions between Trump and al-Sharaa focused on bilateral relations, ways to strengthen cooperation, and regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Trump praised the Syrian president, saying, “He comes from a very tough place, and he’s a tough guy. I like him. We’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful, because that’s part of the Middle East. We have peace now in the Middle East – the first time that anyone can remember that ever happening.” He also acknowledged al-Sharaa’s controversial past, remarking, “We’ve all had rough pasts.”
Al-Sharaa later told Fox News that his previous ties to al-Qaeda were not discussed during the meeting and that Syria is now a geopolitical partner rather than a threat. The visit follows their first meeting six months ago in Saudi Arabia, where Trump announced plans to lift sanctions, and comes just days after the US removed al-Sharaa from its list of “Specially Designated Global Terrorists.”
Al-Sharaa, who was previously captured by US forces in Iraq and later led al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria, has since rebranded himself, dropping his former nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Julani and advocating for a more inclusive and tolerant Syria. Earlier this year, he addressed the United Nations General Assembly, stating that Syria is “reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world” and pursuing stronger economic ties with the US and EU.
Despite the historic nature of the meeting, al-Sharaa received a low-profile welcome at the White House. He entered through a side door without a formal greeting from Trump, and there was no press conference or joint photo session. He did, however, briefly greet supporters outside the compound as he left.
An anonymous US official said that Syria would be allowed to resume operations at its embassy in Washington, enabling better coordination on counterterrorism, security, and economic matters. The move could also pave the way for a potential withdrawal of US troops from Syria.
The meeting came amid heightened security concerns, with Syrian authorities revealing that two separate ISIL assassination plots targeting al-Sharaa had been foiled in recent months. Over the weekend, the Syrian Ministry of Interior conducted nationwide operations against ISIL cells, arresting more than 70 suspects, according to state media.
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