Donald Trump and al-Sara met at the White House on Monday, November 10, in the first official visit by a president since Syria in the USA.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sara departed the White House shortly after 9pm on Monday, November 10, 2025, after nearly two hours of talks with US President Donald Trump, marking the first visit by a Syrian leader since taking office.
Earlier, the White House said in a statement that “the president of Syria has arrived at the White House … The meeting between President Trump and President al-Sara has begun.”
Although unusual for the usually camera-friendly Trump, both his arrival and his meeting with al-Sara took place behind closed doors, with no media present.
Al-Sharaa’s meeting with Trump was expected to focus on lifting sanctions imposed by the US during the rule of the former regime of Bashar al-Assad, which crippled the Syrian economy.
Damascus is also expected to join the US-led, Kurdish-dominated international coalition against ISIS. Another goal of Trump is to normalize Syria’s relations with Israel.
After the meeting, the White House did not issue an official statement.
Ahmed al-Sharaa greets Syrians who had gathered outside the White House. pic.twitter.com/F12WuA09Ts
— Clash Report (@clashreport) November 10, 2025
Leaving the White House, al-Sara greeted his Syrian supporters who had gathered.
The Trump administration has taken a number of steps to ease diplomatic and economic pressure on Syria and its leader as the country enters a new chapter in its history after more than 13 years of brutal civil war.
A multilayered regional strategy will dominate the first visit by a Syrian president to the White House
From#Syria‘s anti ISIL cooperation & US military presence
TO
the influence of #Iran, #Russia & incursions by #Israel
AND
lifting of sanctions will be discussed @AJEnglish pic.twitter.com/hS8oeSIIsa— Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid) November 10, 2025
“Mystery” is the presence of the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, in Washington. The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced yesterday, November 9, that Fidan will visit the American capital today, November 10, without giving further details.
Turkish media reports that the Turkish minister held meetings at the White House with US officials, implying that he was present at the Trump-al-Sara meeting.
After all, Turkey is the main supporter of the new Syrian leadership and has mediated for the lifting of American sanctions against Damascus.
WATCH: Former Al Qaeda and ISIS leader, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, greets cheering crowds outside the White House.
— Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) November 10, 2025
According to the Syrian presidency’s announcement in X, the meeting was also attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Saibani and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and no mention is made of Fidan.
The statement also said al-Sara and Trump discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and develop those ties, as well as “regional and international issues of common interest.”
Source: Onalert