Trump Hosts Syria’s al-Sharaa at White House as U.S. Extends Sanctions Relief

U.S. President Donald Trump met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House as Washington extended sanctions relief on Damascus for six months. The visit marked the first by a Syrian leader since 1946 and followed al-Sharaa’s rise to power after overthrowing Bashar al-Assad last year. Talks focused on strengthening U.S.-Syria relations and regional cooperation. Trump praised al-Sharaa’s toughness and expressed support for Syria’s recovery, calling the Middle East “at peace.” Addressing his past, al-Sharaa said his former ties to al-Qaeda were behind him and emphasized Syria’s new role as a geopolitical partner, not a threat, to the United States.