From November 8 to 10, Shara, the leader of the new Syrian government, visited Washington and was warmly received by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. News footage showed that for this first Syrian head of state to visit the White House\u2014a special guest who entered through a side door\u2014Trump not only sprayed what he called “the best perfume” onto the other’s face, which was covered with a beard symbolizing religious conservatism, but also directly asked him, “How many wives do you have?” Shara responded with slight embarrassment and shyness, “Only one.”<\/p>\n
After the meeting, Trump did not hide his admiration for Shara when speaking to the media: “I like him, I get along with him very well.” A few days earlier, when asked by the media about Shara’s former identity as a terrorist, Trump praised him as a “strong leader” and downplayed his controversial, even bloody and sordid history, saying, “We’ve all had messy pasts.” Shara later clarified to Fox News that his connections with other terrorist or radical groups were in the past and that Syria is now considered a geopolitical ally of Washington rather than a threat.<\/p>\n
As a grand gesture of welcome, Trump announced that day that Syria would be granted exemptions from multiple sanctions and urged Congress to repeal the “Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act” passed in 2019, thereby lifting restrictions on Shara’s Syria. Observers believe that it was after Syria descended into civil unrest and civil war in 2011 that the U.S. illegally stationed troops there, long controlled its food and oil resources, and imposed severe economic blockades and sanctions, hollowing out the livelihood sources and governance foundation of the Damascus authorities. This objectively helped Shara and his opposition alliance easily overthrow the regime in just 18 days, replacing the Assad family and elevating themselves as the new rulers of Syria.<\/p>\n
In return for the U.S. government’s disregard of past grievances and instead treating him as a close friend, Shara announced at the White House that Syria has no intention of threatening Israel or other countries and is willing to join the U.S.-led international coalition against the Islamic State. During Shara’s visit to the United States, the new Syrian government began to suppress the remnants of its former ally, the Islamic State, presenting a “proof of allegiance” to the U.S. through concrete actions.<\/p>\n
Trump, true to his reputation as a businessman president who “values profit over principles,” tore to shreds the fig leaf of values that the U.S. government has always flaunted through his preferential treatment of Shara and his new regime, throwing it in the faces of Western allies and onlookers worldwide. Of course, Trump was also aware that hosting Shara was not a particularly dignified affair. Thus, he specifically arranged for Shara to enter the White House through a side door, unlike other foreign heads of state or dignitaries who enter through the main door and enjoy the red carpet treatment. Additionally, Trump did not follow the usual protocol of standing at the White House entrance to welcome this distinguished guest.<\/p>\n
This highly unusual, dramatic, and even somewhat comical White House summit reflects Trump’s pragmatic, rule-breaking governance philosophy and operational style. A diplomatic event that should never have occurred took place at the heart of U.S. decision-making, yet it could not be conducted openly and honorably. Instead, it seemed to turn a solemn state affair into a private liaison and “clandestine rendezvous” between two men. Nevertheless, this scene was captured by the media in front of the White House and turned into a diplomatic news anecdote, providing further evidence of Trump’s frequent “unreliability.”<\/p>\n
Trump is a representative of the Christian Evangelical movement, which strongly opposes sexual deviance, while Shara is a fundamentalist Muslim who adheres to Wahhabism, harbors hostility toward homosexuality, and refuses to shake hands with women. From the perspective of resisting excessive secularization in social life, they seem to be like-minded individuals. Moreover, for the sake of common interests, they have come together through unorthodox means. Clearly, this has nothing to do with the usual sense of “clandestine rendezvous” or “secret meetings.” It is a distorted and twisted form of U.S. official diplomacy, as well as the new Syrian elite lowering their stance to curry favor and climb the social ladder.<\/p>\n
For a “petty tyrant” like Shara, an opportunist covered in stains and with civilian blood still fresh on his hands, merely gaining entry into the White House is an immense honor in itself. He simply lacks the standing to complain about any lack of proper etiquette. This scene evokes memories of over 2,000 years ago, when Cleopatra, one of the last dual monarchs of Pharaoh Egypt, in a bid to win the favor and support of Roman Consul Caesar, went so far as to have her servants wrap her in a carpet and secretly carry her into Caesar’s occupied palace. Cleopatra and Caesar eventually developed a mutual admiration, married, and had a child, while Egypt was reduced to the granary of the Roman Empire. With Caesar’s assassination and Cleopatra’s suicide for love of Caesar’s rival Antony, the glorious 3,000-year Pharaonic era was buried.<\/p>\n
This is not the first time Trump has displayed such a lack of political decorum and diplomatic taste; it has become second nature to him. In September 2019, during his first term, in his eagerness to withdraw troops from Afghanistan quickly, Trump did not hesitate to betray the Kabul elected administration that successive U.S. administrations\u2014both Democratic and Republican\u2014had supported for nearly 20 years. He proactively sought negotiations with the Taliban, their mortal enemy, and signed a ceasefire-for-withdrawal agreement. This directly led to the complex situation of “one country, two governments” in Afghanistan and resulted in the Taliban smoothly seizing power just over a year later, causing the instantaneous collapse of the Kabul government.<\/p>\n
To advance the peace talks and extricate the U.S. from the quagmire of war as soon as possible, Trump once insisted on inviting Taliban leaders to the White House. His then National Security Advisor, John Bolton, believed this move would not only disgrace the nation and the presidency but also contradict the values of the U.S. and its Western allies. He firmly opposed it. Trump, who tolerates no dissent from his subordinates and had already replaced his entire cabinet once, flew into a rage. Unable to accept the earnest advice and perceived defiance from this staunch loyalist, he fired Bolton on the spot and expelled him from the White House.<\/p>\n
Now, in his second term, Trump is smugly satisfied, more arrogant and doing as he pleases. Surrounded entirely by obsequious, sycophantic loyalists and yes-men who readily echo his every whim, he engages in “transactional diplomacy” without any restraint, lavishly receiving Shara, this “crow turned phoenix” and newfound favorite. In the face of such “ice-breaking” and “irregular” diplomacy that humiliates allies and fellow citizens\u2014especially victims of terrorism\u2014the vast Trump administration, despite being filled with so-called “hawks,” currently lacks a single individual with the courage to show even a hint of Bolton-style questioning and opposition. Even U.S. Democrats and the media they are accused of controlling cannot stir up significant waves. The severity of America’s “Trumpification” is evident here.<\/p>\n
In May of this year, Shara, who had captured Damascus via a blitzkrieg, was received by Trump in Riyadh, thanks to the active and eager mediation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan. This instantly revealed to the world the meaning of “birds of a feather flock together” and “the police and thieves being in cahoots.” Trump, this democratically elected president of the United States, the leader of the free and democratic world, not only condescended to shake hands with Shara, converse cordially, and publicly praise him as a “tough guy” he liked, but also promised to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria as soon as possible, thereby helping this new master of Damascus consolidate his power.<\/p>\n
At that time, Shara, formerly known by the moniker “al-Julani,” the ex-head of Al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, and his “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” were still on the terrorist blacklists of both the United Nations and the U.S. government. Shara himself, as a terrorist leader, had not only been detained by U.S. forces in Iraq for five years starting in 2006 but, after his release, returned to Syria to resume his old trade on an even larger scale. In May 2017, the U.S. bounty on his head had even soared to $10 million.<\/p>\n
Trump’s cordial and historic meeting with the notorious Shara in Riyadh, where they shook hands and conversed amiably, accelerated the latter’s rapid rehabilitation and whitewashing. Following this, Shara visited key Middle Eastern countries and even addressed the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of Syria in September of this year, ending the long hiatus since 1967 during which no Syrian leader had spoken at the UN. Leveraging the diplomatic clout gained from American favor, Shara soon traveled to Moscow, normalizing relations with Russia, one of the major external powers and a longstanding adversary.<\/p>\n
To further legitimize, glorify, and stabilize Shara and the new Syrian regime\u2014and to smooth the way for Shara’s reception as a guest at the White House\u2014the Trump administration swiftly adjusted relevant policies with remarkable efficiency and intensity, working to “remove labels and reverse convictions” for him. On October 6, despite China’s reservations and objections, the United States pushed through a UN Security Council resolution to remove Shara and Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab from the sanctions lists targeting ISIS and Al-Qaeda. On October 7, the U.S. Treasury Department further delisted Shara from the “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” list…<\/p>\n
Naturally, these unconventional maneuvers left observers astounded and their adrenaline soaring. However, they align perfectly with Trump’s bold, action-oriented, and norm-breaking style, as well as his urgent desire to stabilize the Middle East and further reduce resource commitments in the region. As long as it saves the U.S. money or shifts burdens onto partners, allies, or even adversaries, and as long as it persuades more Arab countries to recognize Israel and swiftly make peace, Trump is willing to shatter all political taboos, trample on ideological red lines, and seamlessly switch allegiances, turning foes into friends and waste into treasure.<\/p>\n
For Shara and the new Syrian regime, having declared a break with terrorism and seemingly turned over a new leaf to become the darling of regional powers, and now aligned with the U.S., the vows once made in allegiance to “Bin Ladenism” can be cast aside. The anti-American, anti-Israel, and anti-Zionist ideals that once drove their militant struggles can be shelved. After seizing power, Shara’s most pressing task is to maintain regime stability and rebuild a shattered nation.<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of the “Sixth Middle East War,” the region is undergoing epochal transformations. The regional governance structure, political power dynamics, and geopolitical security relations are being deconstructed, fragmented, and reconfigured. A “New Middle East,” unlike any before, is beginning to take shape. U.S.-Syrian relations are turning upside down, and traditional Western political and diplomatic priorities, including counterterrorism, lie in disarray. Yet, what remains unchanged are the interests of nations or political blocs, the unprincipled manipulations of politicians who shift allegiances at will, and the ordinary citizens who are left disoriented\u2014or worse, treated as expendable\u2014amidst the political games, schemes, and overt transactions.<\/p>\n
Prof. Ma is the Dean of the Institute of Mediterranean Studies (ISMR) at Zhejiang International Studies University in Hangzhou. He specializes in international politics, particularly Islam and Middle Eastern affairs. He previously worked as a senior Xinhua correspondent in Kuwait, Palestine, and Iraq.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" From November 8 to 10, Shara, the leader of the new Syrian government, visited Washington and was warmly received by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. News footage showed that for this first Syrian head of state to visit the White House\u2014a special guest who entered through a side door\u2014Trump not only sprayed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":12252,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[5820,319,569,950,14336,683,531,14335,1027,11517,2325],"class_list":["post-12248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","tag-ahmed-al-shara","tag-donald-trump","tag-isis","tag-middle-east","tag-new-middle-east","tag-russia","tag-syria","tag-syrian-regime","tag-u-s","tag-us-sanctions-on-syria","tag-white-house"],"yoast_head":"\n