Trump Praises 'Attractive, Tough Fighter' Syrian Leader, Once A US-Designated Terrorist | Watch

Last Updated:May 15, 2025, 09:19 IST

Donald Trump's praise for Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa came after a meeting in Riyadh, marking a departure from decades of US policy.

Donald Trump praises Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

US President Donald Trump lauded Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a “young, attractive, tough guy" with a “real shot at doing a good job" rebuilding war-torn Syria. This praise came after a meeting in Riyadh, marking a departure from decades of US policy.

The meeting, held at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, followed Donald Trump’s decision to lift sweeping sanctions against Syria, imposed by the US since 1979.

Donald Trump Praises Ahmad al-Sharaa

Donald Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One, described Ahmad al-Sharaa as a “fighter" with a “very strong past," expressing optimism about his ability to “hold it together" in Syria. He also mentioned that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, “who is very friendly with him," shared this sentiment.

Why Donald Trump’s Meeting With Ahmad al-Sharaa Is Significant

The meeting, the first between a US president and a Syrian leader in 25 years, saw Donald Trump urging Ahmad al-Sharaa to normalize ties with Israel. Despite lifting sanctions, Donald Trump did not indicate any intention to remove Syria from the US blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation stemming from its support of Palestinian militants.

The lifting of sanctions represents a significant boost for Syria, which is still recovering from the aftermath of Ahmad al-Sharaa’s December ousting of Bashar al-Assad. This shift in US policy signals a potential realignment of geopolitical forces in the Middle East, even as questions remain about the long-term implications of engaging with a leader with Ahman al-Sharaa’s controversial past.

Ahman al-Sharaa Was Once A Designated Terrorist

Until December 2024, Ahmad al-Sharaa led the rebel forces that overthrew Bashar al-Assad. Ahmad al-Sharaa was known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani and was the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)- an offshoot of al-Qaeda.

Ahmad Al-Sharaa himself was designated a terrorist by the US in 2013, and a $10 million bounty was placed on his head. He publicly broke with both ISIS and al-Qaeda by 2021 as he focused on fighting against the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

Trump Praises 'Attractive, Tough Fighter' Syrian Leader, Once A US-Designated Terrorist | Watch