Historic Meeting: Trump Hosts Former Al-Qaeda Commander Ahmed al-Sharaa at White House Amid Diplomatic Breakthrough

US President Donald Trump welcomed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to the White House in a historic diplomatic meeting.

In a remarkable diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump hosted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday, marking an encounter that would have been considered impossible in previous years.

Al-Sharaa, formerly an Al-Qaeda commander who was designated a terrorist by Washington with a $10 million US bounty on his head, stood beside Trump in what represented the first official visit of a Syrian leader to the White House since Syria gained independence from France in 1946.

The meeting coincides with the US extending its pause on Syrian sanctions for an additional 180 days.

A viral video of their meeting captured a lighthearted moment between the two leaders. Trump presented Al-Sharaa with perfume, proceeding to spray it on him while saying, "It's the best fragrance... And the other one is for your wife." In a jovial manner, Trump then inquired, "How many wives?"

When Al-Sharaa responded with "one," laughter erupted in the room. Trump humorously added, "You never know!"

During the visit, Al-Sharaa mentioned he had brought Trump symbolic gifts - replicas of ancient Syrian artifacts including what he described as "the first alphabet in history, the first stamp in history, the first musical note, and the first customs tariff."

Referencing Al-Sharaa's controversial past, Trump commented, "We've all had rough pasts, but he has had a rough past. And I think, frankly, if you didn't have a rough past, you wouldn't have a chance."

Al-Sharaa, 43, came to power last year when his Islamist forces rapidly overthrew former president Bashar al-Assad in a swift offensive that concluded on December 8.

He enters the talks with clear objectives. Al-Sharaa seeks a permanent elimination of sanctions that were imposed on Syria due to widespread allegations of human rights violations by Assad's government and security forces. While Trump has currently waived the Caesar Act sanctions, their permanent repeal would require congressional action.