WASHINGTON: Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa held unprecedented talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, marking a dramatic milestone in Washington’s rapidly shifting approach to Damascus. The meeting came only days after the US removed Sharaa from its terrorism blacklist, a move that stunned many diplomatic observers.
Sharaa’s visit is historic in itself. He is the first Syrian leader to set foot in the White House since Syria gained independence in 1946, underscoring how far the relationship has swung in recent months. Once a militant commander affiliated with Al-Qaeda, Sharaa rose to power through Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that Washington only delisted as a terrorist organization in July. His own name was formally taken off the blacklist on Friday, clearing the way for Monday’s talks.
In a brief statement, the White House confirmed that “the president of Syria arrived at the White House” and that his meeting with Trump was underway. In an unusual departure from Trump’s typical media openness, both the arrival and the talks were held entirely behind closed doors, with no cameras or press allowed.
Trump has repeatedly praised Sharaa in recent days, calling him a “tough guy” navigating an even tougher region. “I got along with them very well and a lot of progress has been made with Syria,” he said last week, signaling confidence in the new Syrian leadership’s shift toward moderation.
Since assuming power, Sharaa and his circle have made visible efforts to distance themselves from their violent past and rebrand Syria’s political direction. Analysts say Monday’s meeting is another key step in that transformation. Michael Hanna, US program director at the International Crisis Group, described the visit as “a hugely symbolic moment for the country’s new leader,” framing it as part of Sharaa’s rapid evolution from militant figure to international statesman.
Trump and Sharaa first met in May during the US president’s regional tour in Saudi Arabia. Trump, now 79, created a minor stir at the time when he described the 43-year-old Syrian president as “a young, attractive guy,” hinting at the unusually personal rapport between the two leaders.
US officials have also signaled that the talks may lead to concrete outcomes. Washington’s envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, said earlier this month that Sharaa could sign an agreement to join the international US-led coalition against the Islamic State group. Additionally, a Syrian diplomatic source told AFP that the United States plans to set up a military base near Damascus to coordinate humanitarian assistance and monitor developments along the Syria-Israel border.
The White House has been pushing for a broader breakthrough that could end decades of hostility between Syria and Israel. Such rapprochement is seen by Trump’s advisers as a central piece of the administration’s effort to stabilize the fragile Gaza ceasefire and build a wider regional peace framework.
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