Overview
- Trump held a closed‑door meeting with Ahmed al‑Sharaa and praised him as a "strong leader," saying he wants to help make Syria "successful."
- The Treasury Department announced a 180‑day extension of its suspension of enforcement of the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria.
- Syrian officials said they signed a political cooperation declaration with the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, and reports earlier in the day described two Islamic State plots to assassinate al‑Sharaa.
- After the meeting, al‑Sharaa greeted cheering supporters outside the White House, drawing public criticism on X from activist Laura Loomer over the gathering.
- Coverage highlighted al‑Sharaa’s past with al‑Qaeda and prior U.S. terror listings and bounty now removed, while House Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast met him in Washington and did not commit to supporting a repeal of sanctions.