Trump Praises Syria’s New Leader — a Former al-Qaeda Emir With a $10 Million U.S. Bounty
- Olga Nesterova
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
In remarks delivered from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump offered public praise for Ahmed al-Sharaa — better known internationally by his former nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Joulani — the ex-al-Qaeda emir who now leads Syria after Bashar al-Assad’s collapse.
Trump described al-Sharaa as:
“a very strong leader… from a tough place, and a tough guy.I liked him, I get along with him.We’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful.”
The comments, represent one of the most dramatic and controversial shifts in U.S. posture toward a figure long designated a terrorist and once pursued by the United States with a $10 million reward.
Who Ahmed al-Sharaa Really Is
Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammed al-Joulani) is not simply a Syrian rebel commander. He is one of the most consequential militant leaders of the Syrian war:
He led Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s official branch in Syria.
He helped lay the foundations of the insurgent infrastructure from which ISIS later emerged, before breaking with al-Baghdadi.
His forces established an authoritarian security apparatus in Idlib, with documented cases of torture, arbitrary detention, and targeted killings.
The U.S. government maintained a most-wanted listing for him for nearly a decade, with a bounty under the Rewards for Justice program.
American civilians and humanitarian workers were among those targeted by factions he commanded or enabled.
While al-Sharaa later attempted to “rebrand” his movement (HTS) as a local governance entity, major human rights organizations continue to document systemic abuses under his administration.
This history makes Trump’s personal warmth toward him particularly startling.
Normalization of a Former al-Qaeda Emir
Trump’s comments present al-Sharaa not as a former extremist commander but as a pragmatic partner — an approach that runs counter to the assessments of:
U.S. intelligence agencies
The State Department
Counterterrorism experts
Human rights investigators
And Syria-focused think tanks
To many analysts, the Oval Office remarks signal the normalization of an actor long considered beyond the boundaries of legitimate governance.
This is not a routine diplomatic engagement. It is a U.S. president offering public validation to a figure whom Washington previously viewed as a direct national-security threat.
Why Trump’s Statement Matters
There are three major implications.
1. It signals a profound shift in U.S. counterterrorism doctrine
For decades, American policy held that leaders tied to al-Qaeda were off-limits for recognition or engagement.Trump’s remarks effectively dissolve this barrier.
2. It risks alienating U.S. allies
Countries that have lost civilians, journalists, and aid workers to extremist factions in Syria — particularly European partners — now face a Washington willing to treat a former al-Qaeda emir as a state leader.
3. It erases the experiences of victims
Families of Americans murdered or kidnapped by jihadist groups in Syria are watching the U.S. president describe the man who oversaw that system as:
“a strong leader”
For many, this is experienced as a form of betrayal.
What “Peace” Means in This Context
Groups like Jabhat al-Nusra/HTS use the word “peace” very differently from democratic states.Their ideological framework conceives “peace” as the end of resistance to their rule, not coexistence or pluralism.
Thus, when Trump applauds the prospect of “peace” under al-Sharaa, he is not endorsing reconciliation — he is implicitly endorsing the consolidation of a governance model built on coercion, control, and enforced compliance.
Conclusion: A Dangerous Red Line Has Been Crossed
A year ago, Ahmed al-Sharaa was on the U.S. most-wanted list. Today, the U.S. president calls him “a leader I get along with.”
It is a seismic shift — one with consequences far beyond Syria.
America is now sending a message, intentionally or not, that a militant leader can ascend from al-Qaeda emir to internationally recognized head of state without ever facing accountability for the atrocities committed under his command.
For those who lost loved ones in Syria’s darkest years, and for those still suffering under HTS rule, this normalization is not diplomacy.
It is erasure.
