In a historic diplomatic shift, US President Donald Trump hosted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday. The meeting marked the first official visit by a Syrian leader since the country’s independence from France in 1946.
Al-Sharaa, 43, once a former Al-Qaeda commander with a $10 million US bounty, stood beside Trump in a display of renewed engagement. The visit coincided with Washington’s decision to extend its suspension of sanctions on Syria for another 180 days.
A viral video from the meeting showed Trump joking as he sprayed perfume on Al-Sharaa, saying, “It’s the best fragrance… And the other one is for your wife.” When asked about his number of wives, Al-Sharaa replied “one,” prompting laughter from both leaders.
Al-Sharaa presented Trump with replicas of ancient Syrian artefacts — symbols of the world’s earliest alphabet, stamp, and musical note.
Acknowledging his guest’s turbulent history, Trump said, “We’ve all had rough pasts. He has had a rough past, and that gives him a chance.”
Al-Sharaa’s visit aimed to push for a permanent repeal of US sanctions that continue to affect Syria’s fragile recovery.
