U.S. Donald Trump to receive Syrian President at the White House
(The Post News) – Symbolically, U.S. President Donald Trump will be ushering in Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa into his White House on Monday. This marks the first such event since 1946 amidst the rulebook on Middle Eastern diplomacy.
This meeting signifies a dramatic turn for Syria. Bashar al-Assad fell from power in December last year. After his downfall, the country shifted from isolation to engaging in joint operations with others.
“President Trump’s meeting with Sharaa is part of his ongoing efforts. He aims to engage world leaders in pursuit of peace,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “This is about opening a new chapter for Syria.”
From Enemy Combatant to Political Partner
Ahmad al-Sharaa, once branded a terrorist, is now 42 years old. He fought US forces in Iraq in the early 2000s under the alias Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. After breaking from al-Qaeda in 2016, he helped lead the uprising that toppled Assad’s regime in 2024.
Now, as Syria’s interim leader, Sharaa seeks to rebuild a nation shattered by 14 years of civil war.
“Sharaa’s transformation from insurgent into statesman shows Syria’s broader shift from Iranian orbit. It also illustrates the move to an American partnership,” said Firas Maksad, managing director at the Eurasia Group. “His visit to Washington is a milestone for both countries.”
Trump and Sharaa first met in Riyadh. The U.S. president described him as “a strong, tough guy who’s doing a very good job.”* Since then, Washington has eased sanctions and backed a U.N. Security Council vote to lift restrictions on Syrian officials.
At the Monday talks, the two leaders discussed Syria’s plan for joining the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State and attracting American investment for post-war reconstruction.
“Syria’s re-entry into the international community starts with trust,” Sharaa said ahead of the meeting. “We’re turning a new page.”
Syria’s infrastructure lies in ruins, while the cost of reconstruction is over $200 billion according to the World Bank. Sharaa is pressing for a full repeal of the Caesar Act, which still deters foreign investors.
“Partial relief isn’t enough,” said Mouaz Moustafa, head of the Syrian Emergency Task Force. “Without full repeal, companies will hesitate to help rebuild our country.”
Trump has issued waivers for the sanctions several times. But only Congress can approve permanent repeal. This is a decision that will define Syria’s economic future.
Fragile Peace and Lingering Tensions
Serious challenges persist in Syria despite international optimism. Sectarian violence flared this summer in Sweida, showing deep divides and testing the authority of the interim government.
“Stability will not arrive overnight,” said Maksad. “But Sharaa’s outreach to Washington shows he is serious about building a new Syria for all its people.”
For the United States, embracing Sharaa provides a way to check Iranian and Russian influence over Syria while stabilizing the region. In return, American backing lends an aura of legitimacy to Sharaa and opens doors to vital reconstruction funds.
“Get Syria right, and the rest of the region follows,” a senior U.S. diplomat said. As Sharaa, a former militant turned statesman, strolled across the White House lawn, the symbolism was clear. A country long defined by war was reaching for peace. The road to full recovery may yet be long. Nonetheless, this visit shows the clearest signal thus far. Syria is prepared to turn over a new leaf.
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