Overview
- Tom Barrack and a White House official confirmed the Washington meeting, though no agenda details were released.
- U.S. officials have said al‑Sharaa is expected to sign an agreement to join the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS during the visit.
- This would be the first visit by a Syrian president to the White House, marking a notable shift after years of isolation for Damascus.
- Trump and al‑Sharaa previously met in May in Riyadh, and al‑Sharaa addressed the U.N. General Assembly in September as Syria sought broader diplomatic reintegration.
- Al‑Sharaa, long known as Abu Mohammed al‑Golani, has documented ties to Al Qaeda and previously faced a $10 million U.S. reward for his capture, making the engagement politically sensitive.