Trump met al-Sharaa at the White House, extended sanctions waivers, and joked about his wives, marking a historic diplomatic shift amid skepticism.

On November 12, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in a historic White House visit, the first by a Syrian leader since 1946. The informal meeting included Trump joking about al-Sharaa’s number of wives and presenting him with a bottle of his branded cologne, which he sprayed on al-Sharaa and others. The encounter, marked by lighthearted banter, coincided with a U.S. decision to extend sanctions waivers on Syria for 180 days, though full repeal requires congressional action. Al-Sharaa, a former militant leader once linked to al-Qaeda, has since emerged as Syria’s leader following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. The visit reflects Trump’s effort to reshape Middle East diplomacy, though its long-term impact remains uncertain amid skepticism from some lawmakers and critics concerned about al-Sharaa’s past.