In a development that signals one of the most significant Middle East policy shifts in recent memory, former U.S. President Donald Trump has welcomed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to the White House, marking Syria's dramatic return to the international fold after years of isolation.
An Unprecedented Diplomatic Encounter
The November 10, 2025 meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa represented a surreal moment in diplomatic history. Al-Sharaa, who until just two weeks earlier was listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist with a $10 million bounty on his head, found himself being received as a head of state in the Oval Office.
Following their hour-long closed-door meeting, Trump added his characteristic personal touch to the diplomatic proceedings. The former president spritzed al-Sharaa behind both ears with his commercial brand cologne, Trump Victory 45-47 from the Fight Fight Fight collection. Trump also presented the Syrian leader with a gift bottle of the fragrance, which comes in the form of a statuette of Trump himself.
The moment turned particularly memorable when Trump referenced al-Sharaa's revolutionary nom-de-guerre, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. "So what we'll do is, just take that Joe, put it in," Trump said, making the connection between "Joe" and "Jolani." When Trump inquired about how many wives al-Sharaa had, the Syrian leader laughed and held up one finger, prompting Trump to slap him on the back and remark, "With you guys I never know. I never know, right?"
From Terrorist to Statesman
Al-Sharaa's journey to the White House represents one of the most remarkable political transformations in recent Middle Eastern history. The former al-Qaida militant broke with the terrorist organization nearly a decade earlier and renounced jihad, eventually leading the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham alliance that overthrew Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in December 2024.
Since assuming power, al-Sharaa has focused on implementing a "no external enemies" foreign policy and establishing the rule of law in a unified republic after 14 years of devastating civil war. The conflict claimed approximately 650,000 lives and created 5.6 million refugees, leaving Syria in ruins.
Diplomatic efforts to normalize relations with Syria gained momentum throughout 2025, with diplomats and corporate executives from around the world streaming into Damascus. Trump's regional envoy, Tom Barrack, played a key role in convincing the White House that al-Sharaa was genuine and represented Syria's best hope for stability. "There is no Plan B for Syria," Barrack insisted, "only integration."
Regional Powers Embrace New Syria
The diplomatic breakthrough follows extensive lobbying efforts by Syria-friendly Trump supporters, including Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, who reportedly floated the idea of a Damascus Trump Tower as part of efforts to persuade the White House to lift crippling sanctions.
By spring 2025, such appeals to Trump's vanity may have become unnecessary as regional powers recognized the strategic opportunity. Trump's allies in the Middle East—including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar—were already rushing into the oil-rich country with ambitious reconstruction plans.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also contributed to efforts to shake the United States out of its diplomatic torpor regarding Syria. The new Syrian government's commitment to a phased democratic constitutional order that would heal the country's ethnic and religious divisions has attracted broad international support.
This historic White House meeting represents not just a personal triumph for al-Sharaa but potentially the most encouraging development in Middle Eastern diplomacy in 15 years, signaling Syria's return to the international community and offering hope for lasting stability in the war-torn region.
