In an unprecedented diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump on Monday hosted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House, marking the first-ever visit by a Syrian leader to the presidential residence.
The closed-door meeting, held without media access or official photographs, comes amid significant political realignment in Syria and shifting relations between Washington and Damascus.
President al-Sharaa, 43, has a controversial past, he was once a former al-Qaeda leader and spent time in Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison. Until late 2024, he was on the US global terrorist list with a $10 million bounty on his head.
His rapid transformation from militant commander to internationally recognized head of state has stunned observers.
Just weeks ago, al-Sharaa attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where his presence symbolized Syria’s gradual reintegration into global diplomacy.
Ahead of his visit, the US government lifted long-standing sanctions against al-Sharaa and removed his terrorist designation, along with that of Syria’s Interior Minister, Anas Khattab.
President Trump has previously expressed admiration for al-Sharaa, describing him as a “young, attractive guy with a very strong past,” following a brief encounter during Trump’s Middle East tour earlier this year.
Shortly after that meeting, Washington began easing economic restrictions imposed on Syria, signaling a potential thaw in bilateral relations.
Al-Sharaa assumed power in January 2025 after a transitional political deal that followed a massive offensive by opposition forces, which led to the exile of former President Bashar al-Assad to Russia.
