Trump hails Syrian President as strong leader after White House visit
Sharaa, a former jihadist commander with past ties to Al-Qaeda who had been blacklisted by the US, toppled Bashar Assad’s regime in December 2024. Since taking office, he has vowed to rebuild Syria and protect its ethnic and religious minorities.
“He is a very strong leader. He comes from a very tough place, and he’s a tough guy. I liked him. I get along with him,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We want to see Syria become a country that’s very successful, and we think this leader can do it.”
Trump also commented on his Truth Social platform: “It was an Honor to spend time with Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, the new President of Syria, where we discussed all the intricacies of PEACE in the Middle East, of which he is a major advocate.” He added, “Having a stable and successful Syria is very important to all countries in the Region.”
Despite Sharaa’s promises to promote inclusivity, his leadership has faced criticism due to ongoing sectarian violence against Druze and Christian communities, which has drawn condemnation from the US.
In the days leading up to the White House visit, the US, the UK, and the UN removed Sharaa from their respective terrorist lists. On Monday, Washington extended the suspension of sanctions for another 180 days as Syria moves toward normalizing bilateral ties and enhancing security cooperation.
Reports indicate that Syria is set to formally join the US-led coalition against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). According to official statements, US, Syrian, and Turkish diplomats have agreed on a plan to integrate the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian Army. The SDF has maintained control over large portions of northern and eastern Syria since the mid-2010s.
Last month, Sharaa met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, after which flights to Syria’s Khmeimim Air Base in the west resumed, following a suspension in 2024, according to reports.
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