Trump MEETS Ex-Terrorist – Billions Promised!
Trump just legitimized a former al-Qaeda terrorist leader and promised him billions in sanctions relief – the same man who once had a $10 million bounty on his head by our own government.
At a Glance
- Trump met with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly a designated terrorist) in Saudi Arabia, the first U.S.-Syria leadership meeting in 25 years
- Trump announced dropping sanctions against Syria and exploring normalized relations despite Sharaa’s history leading an al-Qaeda-linked group
- The deal potentially includes Syria joining the Abraham Accords and normalizing relations with Israel
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes lifting sanctions due to security concerns
- Sharaa, who overthrew Assad in December 2024, claims to have cut ties with terrorist organizations
From Terrorist to Presidential Summit: The Stunning Transformation
In a move that has left the political establishment reeling, President Donald Trump met with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, casually sitting down with a man who until recently was better known as Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani – leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and a designated terrorist with a $10 million bounty on his head. This marks the first face-to-face meeting between American and Syrian leadership in a quarter century. But that’s apparently no big deal in Trump’s world of dealmaking, where yesterday’s terrorist is today’s strategic partner if they’re willing to play ball.
Trump announced the U.S. would drop sanctions against Syria and begin exploring normalized relations with Damascus – as if we’re dealing with the government of Canada rather than a military junta led by a man who was designated a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” by our own government in 2013. The kicker? Sharaa’s organization HTS has been a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization since 2014. Yet here we are, shaking hands and making deals. You’d think the folks who constantly wail about “no negotiating with terrorists” would be having absolute conniptions right about now, but the silence from certain quarters is deafening.
The Abraham Accords Gambit: Regional Chess Moves
The diplomatic breakthrough appears centered around Syria potentially joining the Abraham Accords and normalizing relations with Israel. I’ll give credit where it’s due – if Trump can transform a former al-Qaeda affiliate leader into a partner for Middle East peace, that’s quite the magic trick. The White House is framing this maneuver as a strategic play to reduce Chinese influence in the Middle East and further isolate Iran, which certainly aligns with America’s interests. The question remains: can a leopard change its spots? Sharaa overthrew the Assad regime just months ago in December 2024 and now claims to have cut ties with terrorist organizations.
Trump, in his characteristic style, praised Sharaa as a “strong leader” and expressed optimism about Syria’s future. Meanwhile, this “strong leader” heads a military junta and merely describes himself as an “interim” president, promising elections within four years – a tale as old as time in the Middle East. The White House has outlined tasks for Syria to complete, including deporting Palestinian terrorists and managing ISIS detention centers, which sounds great on paper but requires enormous trust in a very questionable character.
Israeli Opposition and Regional Realpolitik
Not everyone is jumping on the Sharaa bandwagon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes lifting sanctions on Syria, citing security concerns that seem pretty reasonable considering Sharaa’s background. Trump has emphasized that Syria must improve relations with Israel and contribute to regional stability as part of any deal. The president also discussed the sanctions relief plan with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, building regional consensus for this dramatic diplomatic pivot.
Both Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post view the meeting as a significant diplomatic development that potentially legitimizes Syria’s new government internationally. The move represents a clear departure from decades of U.S. policy that insisted on regime change in Damascus. It’s also a stark rejection of the nation-building approach championed by previous administrations, instead allowing Syria to determine its own future – even if that future is led by someone who once pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda. That’s realpolitik in its rawest form, folks.
The Art of the Controversial Deal
Trump’s approach here is nothing if not bold – transforming a designated terrorist into a diplomatic partner in the span of months. The administration is gambling that reintegrating Syria into the international community will yield more stability than continuing to isolate it. Critics will undoubtedly point out the moral hazard of rewarding someone with Sharaa’s background, while supporters will focus on the pragmatic outcomes. One thing’s certain: by meeting with Sharaa and offering sanctions relief, Trump has signaled that in his foreign policy, results trump ideology. Whether those results will ultimately benefit America’s interests or create new problems remains to be seen.
