Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa arrived in Washington on Saturday, marking his first official visit to the United States, and one of the most surprising diplomatic moments in recent history.
Only two days before his arrival, the U.S. government lifted long-standing sanctions on Sharaa and formally removed him from its list of global terrorists. The move came just 11 months after Sharaa’s rebel alliance overthrew Bashar al-Assad and took control of Syria, ending more than a decade of brutal civil war.
Syrian authorities said that hours before Sharaa’s plane landed in Washington, security forces in Damascus detained 71 suspected members of the Islamic State group and seized weapons and explosives. Officials described it as one of the largest counterterrorism sweeps since Sharaa’s government took power.
Since becoming president, Sharaa has focused on restoring Syria’s image abroad after years of global isolation. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in September, he said Syria was “reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world” and called for the full removal of international sanctions.
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Last week, the UN Security Council backed a U.S.-led resolution to lift economic restrictions on Syria. Washington also continued its own gradual process of easing sanctions, saying Damascus had shown progress in moving away from extremism.
The U.S. Treasury Department explained that the decision to delist Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab was made “in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership.”
The change in tone between the two nations is striking. Just 11 months ago, the United States had a $10 million bounty on Sharaa’s head. Before entering politics, he was a commander of the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, once linked to al-Qaeda. Back then, he was known under the alias Muhammad al-Jawlani. He was captured by American forces in Iraq years ago and held at Camp Bucca, a U.S. military prison known for housing insurgents.
Now, the same man once hunted by the U.S. government is stepping into the White House for formal talks.
Many people online are calling it just another normal day in MAGA land where money and power seem to matter more than principles.
This is still so surreal to me.
Just one year ago today, the United States was still offering a $10 million bounty for Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Now he is traveling in the United States under the protection of the U.S. Secret Service and sitting in the Oval Office with the President of… https://t.co/UFUZ76JWld
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) November 10, 2025
I mean, our President was driving a dump truck a year ago. It’s a crazy world out there. pic.twitter.com/da2yAui0KY
— Jolly Roger (@JollyRogX) November 10, 2025
Always follow the money. Then even faith loses its meaning.
— Sophie from Germany (@SophieAnneBfeld) November 11, 2025
Normal day in maga land. 🤷🏻♀️
— MissPeeps ❌👑 (@mizzpeeps1) November 10, 2025
Trump first met Sharaa in May during a regional summit in Riyadh, where he called him a “tough guy with a very strong past.”
Featured image via YouTube screengrab
