United States President Donald Trump on Monday hosted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House, marking the first-ever official visit by a Syrian head of state to Washington.
The meeting, which took place behind closed doors with no press access, represents one of the most unexpected diplomatic developments of Trump’s presidency. It also signals a dramatic shift in U.S.-Syria relations, one that has raised questions about the administration’s foreign policy priorities and its approach to global counterterrorism alliances.
Okay News reports that President al-Sharaa’s visit comes less than a year after the U.S. removed his name from its global terrorist list and lifted sanctions against him and Anas Khattab, Syria’s interior minister. Until December 2024, al-Sharaa had been a U.S.-designated terrorist, accused of leading al-Qaeda-affiliated factions during Syria’s prolonged civil war, with a $10 million bounty once placed on his head.
Al-Sharaa, who previously served time at Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq, has since undergone what observers describe as a stunning transformation from jihadist commander to political leader. His rise to power began in January 2025, when opposition forces ousted Bashar al-Assad, forcing the long-time Syrian ruler into exile in Russia.
