Who is Thomas Barrack, Trump’s diplomatic point man in Ankara and Damascus?

Billionaire investor Thomas J. Barrack, one of US President Donald Trump’s most trusted figures, is conducting an unconventional diplomatic mission in the Middle East with his dual role as the new US Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria.

Combining over forty years of experience in finance, law, and government with his deep commercial ties in the Middle East and a “personal friendship” with President Trump, Barrack has adopted a results-oriented approach he calls “event diplomacy” to reshape America’s policy in the region.

Barrack was nominated by President Trump as Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye in March 2025, received Senate confirmation in April 2025, and officially began his duties on May 14, 2025. Shortly after this appointment, on May 23, 2025, he was also appointed as the US Special Envoy for Syria while continuing his ambassadorial role in Ankara.

A new era in Ankara: Is the F-35 and S-400 crisis being resolved?

During his tenure in Ankara, Barrack has frequently emphasized that Türkiye is a key regional actor and NATO ally that he believes has not always received the recognition it deserves. He stated that he relies on the strong personal relationship between President Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to restore trust between the two countries.

Recounting a moment at a NATO summit where Erdoğan stood by Trump, Barrack expressed that, contrary to his public image, Trump is “actually sweet, gentle, and kind,” and that the two leaders “genuinely like each other.”

One of his most concrete diplomatic initiatives has been the commitment to resolve the crisis that began with Ankara’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system, which led to Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 program and the imposition of CAATSA sanctions. Barrack has publicly stated his belief that this dispute can be resolved by the end of 2025.

He said that Trump and Erdoğan would instruct their diplomats to find a solution and that the US Congress would also support a “smart solution.”

“All these issues that have been debated for five years; F-35s, F-16s, S-400s, sanctions, tariffs… Enough is enough,” Barrack said, calling on the parties to set these matters aside.

‘Event diplomacy’ in Damascus: Sanctions lifted, $7 billion deal signed

Barrack’s appointment as Special Envoy for Syria signaled a significant shift in Washington’s Syria policy following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. The Trump administration’s new policy is moving away from past “nation-building” efforts, focusing instead on lifting sanctions, economic reconstruction, and ensuring stability.

Barrack describes this approach as “event diplomacy” rather than “process diplomacy,” stating that priority is given to “actions and results.”

The first step of this policy was taken with President Trump’s decision on May 14 to “tear up the sanctions against Syria.” Immediately afterward, on May 23, the Treasury Department issued a general license lifting comprehensive sanctions against Syria and granted a 180-day waiver for sanctions under the Caesar Act.

To manage this process, Barrack met with Syria’s interim Head of State, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Istanbul on May 24, and in Damascus on May 29 and July 9. As a concrete result of these meetings, a $7 billion energy deal was signed on May 29 between Syria and a consortium of Qatari, US, and Turkish companies.

Simultaneously, as a symbol of renewed diplomatic relations, the US Embassy residence in Damascus was reopened.

Tough topics on the table: SDF integration and Hezbollah’s disarmament

Despite progress on the economic front, significant challenges remain on issues such as the integration of military forces. Barrack is actively involved in negotiations for the integration of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the new Syrian army. However, the main point of contention is whether the SDF will remain a unified entity within the new army or if its members will be integrated individually.

Barrack acknowledged this is a “major problem,” stating that progress is being made in “baby steps” due to the necessity of building trust between the parties.

Barrack’s diplomatic efforts have also extended to Lebanon. He visited Beirut this week to receive the Lebanese government’s response to a US proposal aimed at the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed groups. Although Barrack said he was “incredibly pleased” with the seven-page response, its details were not made public. The US proposal reportedly links the disarmament of Hezbollah to economic reforms for Lebanon and an end to Israel’s military operations in the country.

Barrack reiterated the goal of “one nation, one people, one army” for Lebanon, arguing that President Trump “does not have the patience” to continue negotiations without concrete progress.

Portrait of a real estate tycoon of Lebanese descent

Born in California on April 28, 1947, Thomas Joseph Barrack Jr. is the grandson of a Catholic family that emigrated from Zahle, Lebanon. He frequently references this heritage in his diplomatic engagements. After studying law at the University of Southern California, he began his career as a finance lawyer. In 1972, he was sent to Saudi Arabia, where he established close ties with a Saudi prince. In 1982, he was appointed Deputy Undersecretary of the Interior by President Ronald Reagan.

After his government service, Barrack returned to the finance sector and founded the global private equity firm Colony Capital in 1990, which would later become DigitalBridge. Under his leadership, the company invested over $200 billion in capital worldwide, becoming one of the world’s largest real estate investment firms. Throughout his career, he built an extensive global network of relationships, particularly with investors and governments in the Middle East.

Friendship with Trump and past legal proceedings

Barrack has a close friendship with Donald Trump that spans decades. He served as a senior advisor on Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and, after the election, chaired the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee, raising over $100 million in donations.

However, these close ties, particularly his connections with the UAE, also led to legal troubles. In July 2021, he was arrested on charges of acting as an unregistered agent for a foreign government. He was acquitted of all charges in November 2022. Previously, in the final days of Trump’s first term, he had benefited from a presidential pardon related to the 2019 “college admissions scandal.”