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| Donald Trump shakes hands with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh, marking a surprising step toward potential U.S.-Syria normalization after years of hostility. |
In a meeting once thought impossible, former U.S. President Donald Trump sat down with Syria’s interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh—signaling a potential thaw in U.S.-Syria relations. Sharaa, who led the fight to end the Assad family’s decades-long rule, met Trump for a 37-minute conversation in a lavish Saudi palace, joined by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and, via phone, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Trump's unexpected endorsement of Sharaa marks a sharp shift. Once hunted by the U.S. with a $10 million bounty for his past links to al-Qaeda, Sharaa now presents himself in Western suits as a unifying figure for a broken Syria. Trump praised him as a “tough guy” with “strong potential,” announcing soon after that the U.S. is considering lifting sanctions on Syria—a move that drew applause at a U.S.-Saudi investment forum.
For many Syrians, Trump's announcement offers hope. After years of conflict and economic collapse, lifting sanctions could pave the way for aid, investment, and a return to normalcy. Hind Kabawat, Syria’s minister of social affairs, called it “a new light at the end of this tunnel.”
Still, experts warn the road ahead is complex. Dismantling layers of sanctions will require sustained political effort. Trump, meanwhile, made it clear that full normalization will depend on Syria joining the Abraham Accords—a U.S.-brokered initiative to normalize relations with Israel.
While skepticism remains—especially in Israel, where concerns about Sharaa’s militant past persist—Trump described the moment as “a chance at greatness.” For many Syrians, it’s simply a long-awaited chance for peace and progress.