Donald Trump made history on Wednesday by becoming the first U.S. president in a quarter-century to meet a Syrian leader.
During his visit to Riyadh, his first foreign trip since beginning a second term, Trump held talks with Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s interim president, who came to power after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December.
Their meeting, which took place ahead of a Gulf leaders’ summit, marked a significant diplomatic move. No American president has met a Syrian leader since Bill Clinton’s failed 2000 peace efforts with Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father.
Trump’s administration announced the lifting of longstanding “brutal and crippling” sanctions imposed during Assad’s rule, responding to requests from allies Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Trump said the move aimed to “give [Syrians] a chance at greatness” and declared it was now “Syrians’ time to shine.”
The policy shift was warmly received in Syria, where celebrations broke out in Damascus. “This decision will definitely affect the entire country positively,” said Huda Qassar, a local teacher.
While the sanctions relief opens the door to foreign investment and reconstruction, Trump did not signal a change in Syria’s classification as a state sponsor of terrorism, a label that restricts financial transactions and dates back to 1979 over support for Palestinian militant groups.
The European Union and other Western countries had already begun easing restrictions, but Washington had maintained firm conditions under previous administrations. A December visit to Damascus by a Biden-era envoy signaled early engagement, but Trump’s bold move is seen as a pivotal break with past policy.
Security concerns remain high. Israel, unconvinced of any real change under Sharaa, has continued bombing targets in Syria and expressed skepticism about the country’s new leadership.
Rabha Seif Allam of the Al-Ahram Center in Cairo noted the sanctions relief would “give Syria a real opportunity to receive the funding needed to revive the economy, impose central state authority, and launch reconstruction projects with clear Gulf support.”
Qatar Jet Deal Sparks Controversy
Trump’s trip has not been without scandal. Ahead of his scheduled stop in Doha, reports emerged of a \$400 million luxury aircraft offered by Qatar for use as the new Air Force One—and later for Trump’s personal use. The deal has triggered a political uproar in Washington, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowing to block all Justice Department appointments in protest.
Qatar’s offer comes amid its role as a key mediator in recent Middle East diplomacy, including negotiating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and securing the release of U.S.-Israeli national Edan Alexander from Gaza.
While that ceasefire, brokered with Egypt and the U.S., came into effect just before Trump’s second inauguration, Israel has since resumed military operations, blocking aid to Gaza and warning of a looming famine.
What you should know
Donald Trump’s meeting with Syria’s interim president signals a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Damascus. While lifting sanctions may offer Syria an economic lifeline and regional reintegration, concerns remain over ongoing violence, Israel’s stance, and ethical questions tied to Trump’s controversial Qatar jet deal.
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