President Donald Trump just shook hands with a former al-Qaeda fighter, and the woke crowd’s heads are probably exploding.
On Wednesday, Trump met Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, a bold move to flip the Middle East chessboard. This isn’t your typical diplomatic tea party—it’s a high-stakes gamble with a jihadi-turned-nationalist.
Breitbart reported that Trump’s meeting with Sharaa, who toppled Syria’s regime in December 2024, followed his announcement on May 13 to lift U.S. sanctions on Damascus.
The half-hour, closed-door talk was the first U.S.-Syria presidential face-off in 25 years, since Clinton met Hafez al-Assad. It’s a seismic shift aimed at curbing Iran and China’s regional clout.
Sharaa, once known as Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, led al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front, now rebranded as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The U.S. still lists HTS as a terrorist group, and Sharaa himself was a $10 million bounty target until recently. Funny how “revolutionary” can polish up a rap sheet.
“Young, attractive guy. Tough guy,” Trump said of Sharaa on Air Force One. That’s one way to describe a former ISIS fighter now promising Syrian elections in four years. The MAGA base might cheer the pragmatism, but the left’s likely clutching pearls over this bromance.
Sharaa claims he’s ditched al-Qaeda and ISIS, focusing on Syrian nationalism and an “inclusive” government. His track record’s spotty—ethnic and religious minorities are still waiting for real protection. Actions, not words, define a leader, and Sharaa’s got a steep hill to climb.
Trump’s pushing Syria toward the Abraham Accords, which normalized Israel’s ties with Arab states. “I told him, ‘I hope you’re going to join when it’s straightened out,’” Trump said. Sharaa nodded, but Syria’s got to stop being a terrorist playground first.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is fuming over Trump’s sanctions lift. He begged Trump to keep the pressure on during a Washington visit in April 2025, citing Syria’s cross-border attacks. Netanyahu’s silence after Trump’s May 13 announcement speaks louder than a press release.
Trump told Sharaa to deport Palestinian terrorists and manage ISIS detention centers in northeast Syria. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will work with Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani to make it happen. It’s a tall order for a junta still figuring out governance.
“He’s got a real shot at holding it together,” Trump said of Sharaa’s leadership. That’s optimistic for a guy running a military junta with a terrorist past. The woke media will probably scream “appeasement,” but Trump’s betting on results over optics.
Trump didn’t go solo—he looped in Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan even joined the Riyadh meeting by phone. The Gulf states, now free to pour cash into Damascus, are likely thrilled at the sanctions relief.
Lifting sanctions opens the door for Saudi Arabia and the UAE to bankroll Syria’s rebuild. It’s a pragmatic move to pull Syria from Iran’s orbit. The left might call it “selling out,” but geopolitics isn’t a feelings contest.
Syria’s potential Abraham Accords entry hinges on better Israel relations and regional stability. Trump’s clear: no progress, no deal. Sharaa’s got to deliver, or he’s just another warlord with a fancy title.
“I felt very strongly that this would give them a chance,” Trump said of the meeting. He’s banking on Sharaa’s nationalist pivot, but the jury’s out on whether a jihadi can play statesman. The MAGA crowd loves the bold stroke, even if it’s a tightrope walk.
Sharaa’s HTS still carries the stench of its al-Qaeda roots. His promise of elections and minority protections sounds nice, but Syria’s history of broken vows looms large. Trust is earned, not gifted.