The internet erupted after US President Donald Trump met Syria’s interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa in Riyadh, marking the first direct engagement between leaders of the two countries in 25 years. The meeting, held on the sidelines of a Gulf Cooperation Council summit, was seen as a dramatic shift in American foreign policy and a potentially defining moment in Syria’s post-Assad era.What made the encounter especially striking was al-Sharaa’s past. Formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, he was previously associated with Al-Qaeda-linked militant factions and fought against US forces in Iraq. He had been captured and detained by American troops for several years before emerging as the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which seized Damascus earlier this year and brought down the Assad regime.Trump’s decision to lift longstanding US sanctions on Syria triggered celebrations across Syrian cities. State media broadcast footage of public gatherings, flag-waving, and fireworks in Damascus and Aleppo, with hopes high for economic relief and renewed foreign investment. The sanctions, some of which had been in place since 1979, had long isolated Syria from global markets and credit systems.
The meeting was closed to the press, but White House officials confirmed it lasted just over 30 minutes and included participation by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who joined via phone. Trump reportedly used the occasion to call on Syria to recognise Israel, expel foreign fighters from its territory, and assume control of prisons currently operated by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces holding Islamic State detainees.This development comes after months of quiet support for al-Sharaa’s government from Gulf Arab states, which have sought to counter Iranian influence in the region by backing Syria’s new leadership. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have both advocated for Syria’s reintegration into Arab diplomacy under the new regime, seeing in al-Sharaa a Sunni-led counterbalance to Tehran’s regional ambitions.Here’s how social media users reacted: Notably, the move has strained ties with Israel, which had warned the US against legitimising the new Syrian government. Israeli officials remain concerned that al-Sharaa’s Islamist roots and military past could result in future instability along the Golan Heights or facilitate cross-border attacks.Inside Syria, the Foreign Ministry hailed the lifting of sanctions as a major turning point and a signal of international recognition for the new leadership. With a socialist economic legacy and years of wartime devastation, Syria is in urgent need of capital infusion, reconstruction aid, and renewed access to oil revenue from the northeast — all of which may become possible under new economic arrangements.
Trump’s Middle East tour, which includes visits to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE, has focused on reshaping regional alignments. His move on Syria is part of a broader recalibration aimed at drawing down direct US military involvement and encouraging local powers to take responsibility for security and governance.As reactions poured in online, much of the commentary reflected deep unease over the speed and symbolism of the meeting. Some called it a betrayal of past counterterrorism commitments, while others described it as a bold realpolitik manoeuvre that could unlock regional stability. The debate highlighted how quickly former adversaries can be rebranded as potential partners in a shifting geopolitical landscape.The Trump-al-Sharaa handshake may become one of the most controversial images of this presidency — one that will be remembered not just for what it symbolised diplomatically, but also for the questions it raised about memory, morality, and the mutability of alliances.
