President Donald Trump met with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday, a major policy shift the day after all sanctions were lifted on Syria.
The last meeting between the two leaders was in 2000 with former President Bill Clinton.
Trump met with al-sharaa to have an informal chat about the GCC’s bystander line, where he will address leaders as part of a four-day regional tour.
Trump says he will impose sanctions on Syria to normalize relations
U.S. President Donald Trump (C) (C) met with Syrian President Ahmed Salah (L) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Saudi Arabia (R) at his three-country Middle East tour in Saudi Arabia on May 14, 2025. (Bandar al-Jaloud/Saudi Royal Court/Thangout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Trump said at the summit that this is a step towards building relations with peace and rebuilding the Syrian government.
"As you know, we are currently exploring normal relations with the new Syrian government, from my meeting with President Ahmed Al-Shara and Secretary Rubio's meeting with the Syrian Foreign Minister after discussing the situation with Crown Prince Mohammed," Trump said at the broader summit.
He said: "I also ordered the sanctions against Syria to be suspended to give them a new beginning. It gave them a great opportunity. The sanctions are really cruel and very powerful."
Seeing Syrians and hearing the announcement celebrating Trump, he will lift sanctions in the tortured Middle Eastern countries.
Syrian people flock to the streets of the capital Damascus to celebrate the decision of US President Donald Trump to lift sanctions. (Amadeusz Mikolaj Swierk/Anadol via Getty Images)
Trump's Middle East Tour begins with Syria imminent as a strategic opportunity
A statement from the Syrian Foreign Ministry said the news was a "critical turning point for the Syrian people as we seek to stand out from the long and painful chapters of war".
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also planning to meet with his Syrian counterpart later this week. （AP/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool）
Trump said he strongly believes the new effort will give Syria a great opportunity in a new beginning.
Click here to get the Fox News app
"I really strongly think that this will give them a chance," the president said. "It's not easy anyway, so it gives them a good chance. It's my honor to do so, so we're going to give up all the sanctions on Syria, which I think is a good thing."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also planning to meet with his Syrian counterpart later this week.