Trump Meets Syrian Leader in Saudi Arabia a Day After Lifting U.S. Sanctions: A Shocking Diplomatic Turn

By [BS Khabar 24 News] | May 14, 2025

One day after declaring that U.S. sanctions on Syria would expire, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump made headlines once more when he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This unexpected turn of events has left the world community in a frenzy.

Insiders said the encounter, which took place behind closed doors at a secluded palace in the Saudi capital, was “cordial and unexpectedly warm.” This is the first time in more than ten years that a U.S. president or previous president has met in person with the divisive Syrian leader.

A Move That Stuns,Trump Meets Syrian Leader

This week saw a swift change in the diplomatic landscape, beginning with Trump’s unexpected declaration on Monday,Trump Meets Syrian Leader that the US will lift all economic sanctions against Syria. Despite not being in office right now, Trump continues to have a significant impact on U.S. foreign policy because of his campaign and his continuous ability to influence sizable segments of the Republican Party. He said the sanctions were “obsolete” and “unfair to the Syrian people” during a press appearance in Dubai.

Trump Meets Syrian Leader, stated that the sanctions had “hurt ordinary Syrians far more than the government” and that “the time has come for healing, not more punishment.”

Both critics and analysts were taken aback. In order to put pressure on the Assad regime for human rights violations, such as chemical weapons strikes and suspected war crimes during Syria’s bloody civil war, the sanctions were first implemented in earnest during the Obama administration and then increased during Trump’s own presidency.

Riyadh: The New Diplomatic Hub?

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has established Riyadh as a mediator in a region that longs for peace, is said to have arranged the encounter. Syria, Iran, and even the Houthis in Yemen are among the former pariah states with whom Saudi Arabia has recently increased its diplomatic outreach.

Sources close to the Saudi government stated that Trump, Assad, and Crown Prince Mohammed were in a room for nearly two hours talking about “regional peace efforts, economic partnerships, and future cooperation.” The meeting’s photos have not yet been made public.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Middle Eastern source called the meeting “surprisingly productive,” adding that Assad applauded the gesture as evidence that “Syria may once again find a seat at the international table.”

Criticism from Washington

Reactions back in Washington varied from incredulity to indignation. Trump Meets Syrian Leader ,The action was immediately denounced by a number of Congressmen, both Democrats and Republicans. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described the meeting as “reckless and deeply troubling.”

“President Assad remains a brutal dictator who has not been held accountable for countless atrocities,” Menendez stated. “Meeting with him, especially so soon after lifting sanctions, sends a dangerous message.”

Concern was also expressed by former Trump friend and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Graham tweeted, “I’m all for diplomacy, but not without accountability.” “The United States should not engage with this type of leader without significant preconditions.”

Trump’s followers, meanwhile, have praised the meeting as a daring step towards putting an end to years of Middle East conflict.

Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, claimed that only Trump could accomplish this. The old globalist order’s rules are not being followed by him. Deal by deal, he is creating a new one.

What’s Next?

Trump’s action complicated the Biden administration’s current, cautious, and sanctions-heavy approach to Syria, even though it is not official U.S. policy. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that “the United States has not changed its position regarding the Assad regime,” but President Biden has not yet responded to the Riyadh meeting. Trump Meets Syrian Leader on Monday.

However, there may be repercussions from the symbolic encounter between Assad and the former US president, particularly after a de facto statement of normalisation.

According to experts, the action could inspire other nations to re-engage with Damascus. Diplomatic circles are already hearing rumours of possible trips to Syria by European and Gulf countries.

A New Era or Political Stunt?

It remains to be seen if this meeting marks a real shift in Middle Eastern policy or if Trump is pulling a daring political gimmick. Trump Meets Syrian Leader ,The former president has undoubtedly upset the geopolitical order once more by defying convention and altering stories in real time.

Some see it as a brave move in the direction of peace. Others view it as a risky flirting with a man who has been charged with crimes against humanity for a long time.

Whether you like him or not, Trump has made it clear that he isn’t finished upending the global scene.