Trump to Host Syrian President in Historic White House Meeting Amid Peace Efforts

President Trump to Host Syrian Leader in Historic White House Meeting

President Donald Trump is set to welcome Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to the White House on Monday in what officials describe as a watershed moment in U.S.-Syria relations after more than a decade of hostility and isolation.

The high-profile meeting marks a significant diplomatic shift as Washington tests whether Damascus can be reintegrated into the international community. A senior administration official told Fox News Digital that the discussions will center on counterterrorism cooperation, economic development, and advancing regional peace and security.

“Syria will announce that it is joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Syria will thus become the 90th member of the D-ISIS Coalition, partnering with the United States to eliminate ISIS remnants and halt foreign fighter flows,” the official said.

This meeting follows a series of major policy shifts last week when the U.N. Security Council voted 14-0, with China abstaining, to remove sanctions on al-Sharaa and Syria’s interior minister. Both officials had previously been designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists by the United States.

The diplomatic breakthrough comes approximately six weeks after al-Sharaa addressed the U.N. General Assembly on September 24, the first such appearance by a Syrian head of state in six decades. During his address, he called on Western nations to lift sanctions and requested international support for rebuilding his war-torn country.

According to the administration official, significant economic changes are forthcoming: “Treasury, State, and Commerce will jointly announce measures taken to lift economic restrictions and provide compliance clarity for investors. The United States will allow Syria to resume operations at its Embassy in Washington to further counterterrorism, security, and economic coordination.”

One of the most significant developments is the administration’s approach to the Caesar Act sanctions, which have severely restricted commercial ties with Damascus. “The Administration is issuing a 180-day suspension of the Caesar Act and is urging Congress to permanently repeal the Act to unlock economic growth,” the official stated.

Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.), who visited Damascus this summer, told Fox News Digital he views the visit as an opportunity to end years of bloodshed. “This is the first chance Syria has to emerge from decades of brutal oppression and more than a decade of civil war,” the congressman said. He emphasized his advocacy for expanding the Abraham Accords and protecting the rights of minorities including the Druze, Christians, and Kurds.

The protection of religious minorities has emerged as a key concern among American stakeholders. On Friday, approximately 100 Christian leaders, including Ralph Reed, Tony Perkins, and Alveda King, sent a letter to President Trump urging him to address the protection of Syria’s religious minorities during the meeting.

“We urge you to address directly the massacre of Christians, Kurds, Druze, and Alawites in Syria, notably in the greater Suwayda area,” the letter stated, requesting that Trump secure a commitment from al-Sharaa to open a humanitarian corridor from Hader to Suwayda in southern Syria.

Ahmad Sharawi of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told Fox News Digital that Washington hopes to use the meeting to pursue stability and contain Iran’s influence in the region. “The U.S. interest is having a government that is willing to fight ISIS and stop Iran from re-emerging,” he said.

However, Sharawi cautioned that al-Sharaa’s domestic record shows “a political system that is not inclusive” and a pattern of power centralization. Despite these concerns, he noted that many Syrians see him as “the only figure capable of holding the country together.”

Al-Sharaa, once known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, previously led Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, an organization formerly affiliated with al Qaeda. His transformation from militant leader to internationally recognized head of state has raised concerns among some lawmakers and human rights groups who argue that legitimizing a former jihadist commander could undercut accountability for past abuses.

Syrian-American activist Hicham Alnchawati told Fox News Digital that most Syrians welcome the diplomatic opening. “They’re looking for a better future,” he said. “They suffered the war — there’s no water, no food, no economy, and no security.”

Alnchawati emphasized that lasting regional stability will require eliminating Iran’s and Hezbollah’s influence. “If you really want stability in the Middle East, you have to finish the job with Hezbollah and the Iranians,” he said. “They have to be totally dismantled. Otherwise, they’ll reignite the conflict one more time.”

The meeting represents a significant gamble for both leaders. For Trump, it offers a chance to stabilize a critical region while reducing Russian and Chinese influence. For al-Sharaa, it provides an opportunity to secure international legitimacy and economic relief for his devastated country.

As Sharawi noted, the policy to engage with al-Sharaa “gives Damascus a powerful incentive but leaves Washington exposed. The political cost of failure would be enormous.”