Trump calls Syrian President ‘attractive, tough’, arrives in Qatar for second leg of Gulf trip

Photos broadcast by Saudi state television showed Trump and Sharaa shaking hands alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS). Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan joined virtually, according to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency.

In this photo released by the Saudi Royal Palace, Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, left, shakes hands with President Donald Trump, centre, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. At right is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.(Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP)

According to a White House spokesperson, Trump urged Sharaa to “deport Palestinian terrorists” and become a signatory to the Abraham accords, which would normalise Syrian ties with Israel. He also urged Sharaa to help the US in its mission to fight Islamic State and deal with the country’s remaining chemical weapons stock.

“[I am] ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria to give them a fresh start,” Trump told the conference of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)after his meeting with Sharaa. “It gives them a chance for greatness. The sanctions were really crippling, very powerful.”

.@POTUS says he had a “very good” meeting with the new Syrian leader: “Young, attractive guy, tough guy. Strong past, very strong past — fighter. He’s got a real shot at holding it together.” pic.twitter.com/ffHc21ISM7

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 14, 2025

The warm exchange — and Trump’s glowing description of a leader once affiliated with al Qaeda — stunned observers and drew criticism from US allies including Israel, news agency Reuters reported. Sharaa, who spent five years in a US prison in Iraq and was previously the head of al Qaeda’s official Syrian wing, severed ties with the terror group in 2016 and ousted Bashar al-Assad in a surprise December offensive.

“He’s got the potential — he’s a real leader,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked whether Sharaa had requested a Trump Tower in Damascus.

Trump also said that Israel was not sidelined by his trip to the Gulf and that good US relations with those countries is good for Israel.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

“This is good for Israel,” Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One. “Having a relationship like I have with these countries … I think it’s very good for Israel.”

Trump urged Sharaa to follow the path of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco — all of which normalised ties with Israel under the US-brokered Abraham Accords. The Trump administration is now exploring normalising relations with Syria, starting with this high-profile meeting.

“If we can bring peace and opportunity to a place like Syria, that’s good for the world,” Trump said. The move could position Syria to eventually join the Abraham Accords, though Israeli officials have not welcomed the outreach. The Israeli prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The decision to lift sanctions — which had blocked Syria from the global financial system — is expected to open the door to humanitarian aid, foreign investment, and postwar reconstruction. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud confirmed Riyadh would support Syria’s recovery, calling it a “country of opportunity” now that restrictions are gone.