Historic First: Trump Hosts Syria’s President | Fred Fleitz & Carla Sands on U.S. Diplomacy

A bold new chapter in U.S. diplomacy—can peace with Syria reshape the Middle East?

Ambassador Carla Sands and national security expert Fred Fleitz examine a historic turning point in U.S. foreign policy: President Trump’s decision to host Syrian President Ahmad al‑Sharaa at the White House. Once aligned with Al‑Qaeda and now Syria’s head of state, al‑Sharaa’s rise followed the collapse of the Assad regime amid regional upheaval and Russia’s preoccupation with Ukraine.

This conversation dissects what the meeting could mean for global stability, Syria’s potential role in the U.S.‑led coalition against ISIS, and the prospects for normalized relations with Israel and entry into the Abraham Accords. Fleitz explains the calculated risk behind engaging a former extremist, while Sands questions whether legitimizing al‑Sharaa can truly bring order to a fractured nation.

They explore key issues including sectarian violence, Russian military bases, the Druze conflict zone, and the Trump administration’s wider strategy of using diplomacy and economic incentives to stabilize the Middle East.

Watch as Sands and Fleitz reveal how this unprecedented meeting might redefine alliances, challenge global perceptions, and set a new precedent for American leadership abroad.