From the FBI’s terrorist wanted list to a historic visit to the White House. Its interim President SyriaAhmed al-Sara, was received by the President of the United States, Donald Trumpyesterday (10.11.2025) in another major milestone for the former jihadist.
On the occasion of the historic visit, the State Department announced her suspension of sanctions against Syria for another 180 daysin view of the decision of the US Congress for their final removal.
The Syrian President arrived at the White House at 11:37 (local time, 18:37 in Greece), without entering through the main entrance and without observing the protocol usually reserved for heads of state and government.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa greets his supporters outside the White House after meeting with US President Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/0BrVADwFEM
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) November 10, 2025
Reporters were not invited to the Oval Office at the beginning of al-Sara’s meeting with the American Presidentas is customary during official visits to the White House.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa greets his supporters outside the White House after meeting with US President Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/REJBBNpJU4
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) November 10, 2025
THE Ahmed al-Sara he left the White House around 1:20 p.m. (8:20 p.m. local time in Greece), pausing briefly to greet cheering supporters.
NOW – Former al Qaeda, ISIS, and HTS leader, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, greets cheering crowds, after quietly leaving the White House, following his meeting with Trump.pic.twitter.com/PuA0jJO1aW
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) November 10, 2025
“They say he had a hard past. We’ve all had a rough past.”
Speaking to journalists, Mr Trump later expressed his confidence in the person of the transitional president of Syria, stating that he gets along well with him and that he thinks he is doing a “very good job” in his country. “They say he had a hard past. We all had a hard past,” he commented.
Has Trump Lost His Mind?
Trump on Syria’s new “President” — the former al-Qaeda emir Ahmed al-Sharaa (aka Abu Mohammed al-Joulani):
“He’s a very strong leader. He’s from a tough place and he’s a tough guy. I liked him, I get along with him. We’ll do everything we can to make… pic.twitter.com/E5GKMn93GS
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) November 10, 2025
In a laconic statement, the Syrian presidency said the two leaders discussed “ways to develop and strengthen” bilateral relations, as well as “several regional and international issues.”
Through a post on the X platform (formerly Twitter), the Syrian Minister of Information, Hamza al-Mustafa informed how Syria recently signed a cooperation agreement with the international anti-jihadist alliance which was formed in 2014 with the aim of crushing the Islamic State (IS). “The agreement is political and so far does not include military components,” he clarified.
THE Ahmed al-Sara took power in Damascus last December as head of an Islamist coalition that overthrew President Bashar al-Assad. Since then he has made many trips abroad as his transitional government seeks to lift Syria out of the international isolation it found itself under the Assad regime.