Historic — and Chaotic — White House Visit: Syria’s New President Sharaa Meets President Trump in First U.S. Trip Since 1946
- Olga Nesterova
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
In a stunning and historically unprecedented scene in Washington, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa — the first Syrian head of state to visit the White House since 1946 — met with President Donald Trump, eleven months after Sharaa’s rebel coalition toppled Bashar al-Assad.
The meeting, cloaked in secrecy with no press access, marks a remarkable transformation for Sharaa: from a man carrying a $10 million U.S. bounty to playing basketball with the head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on American soil just days before entering the Oval Office.
From Wanted Man to White House Guest
Sharaa’s swift shift from insurgent commander to internationally recognized president has raised questions across Washington. In D.C., he was welcomed by a cheering crowd of Syrian supporters before heading to the White House — where things became even more unusual.
Inside the Oval Office, photos released by the White House show Sharaa seated directly in front of the Resolute Desk, with Vice President JD Vance beside him. Another photo shows Sharaa posing next to President Trump, who remained seated at the desk.
The absence of press, transcript, or official readout has only amplified scrutiny.
Before Washington: Sharaa’s High-Stakes Visit to Moscow
Shortly before arriving in the United States, President al-Sharaa traveled to Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin — a critical diplomatic step given Russia’s long-standing role in the Syrian conflict.
Russian and regional reporting indicated that the Kremlin emphasized its interest in preserving strategic military assets in Syria, including the Tartus naval facility and the Khmeimim airbase. These bases represent Russia’s primary foothold in the Mediterranean and have been central to its regional operations.
Importantly, al-Sharaa did not mention the bases in his own public remarks following the meeting. His comments focused instead on the need for transitional justice, accountability for war-era crimes, and the return of individuals wanted by Syrian courts — including Bashar al-Assad, who remains in Russia.
This stance subtly but clearly diverges from Moscow’s long-standing protection of Assad and introduces uncertainty regarding Russia’s long-term military posture inside Syria.
A Surprise Guest: Turkey’s Foreign Minister
The visit became even more surprising when Turkish media confirmed that Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was also present at the White House that day — and that he “dropped in” on the Trump–Sharaa meeting.
According to Turkish outlets:
“Turkey’s FM Fidan today at the White House met JD Vance, Rubio, Witkoff and Barrack, discussing Syria, Ukraine and the Gaza peace process. Fidan also dropped in Sharaa–Trump meeting.”
To pretend this overlap was accidental strains belief. Turkey’s deep security and political interests in Syria are well known. What remains unexplained is why these discussions reportedly involved Ukraine — again, without Ukraine present.
U.S. Drops Sanctions on Syria
Hours after the meeting, the U.S. State Department quietly announced that the Trump administration would begin lifting sanctions on Syria, describing the move as an effort to support “economic recovery and future prosperity.”
The timing raised immediate concerns among analysts, especially given that sanctions relief was one of Sharaa’s top foreign-policy goals and a central demand in regional negotiations.
Sharaa’s Fox News Interview: Stunning Statements on 9/11 and Assad
Sharaa then appeared on Fox News, offering comments that are already generating controversy.
When asked whether he regrets that al-Qaeda carried out the 9/11 attacks, he responded:
“I was only 19 years old… I had no decision-making power. And al-Qaeda was not present in my area. So you're speaking to the wrong person about this subject. We mourn every civilian that got killed.”
On Russia’s role in Syria’s war — and the fate of Bashar al-Assad — Sharaa said:
“Russia has participated, in one way or another, in the war against the people of Syria. Those who are wanted should be surrendered to Syria, including Bashar al-Assad…Justice must prevail.”
He added that Syria has established a “traditional justice commission” to handle accountability for war crimes.
Why This Visit Matters
This sudden normalization — the Oval Office meeting, the surprise Turkish presence, the sanctions rollback, and Sharaa’s national TV debut — represents one of the most dramatic U.S. policy shifts toward Syria in decades. And it raises profound, unanswered questions:
Why was the Oval Office meeting held with no press, no transcript, no formal readout?
Why was Turkey’s foreign minister present?
Why were Ukraine and Gaza reportedly discussed without the relevant stakeholders at the table?
And how did Washington move from placing a $10 million bounty on Sharaa…to welcoming him in the White House within a year?
This is geopolitical realignment unfolding in real time — faster than Washington appears willing to acknowledge.
