Trump praises Syria's al-Sharaa as 'phenomenal,' says country 'coming together'

2026-02-20 - 21:22

President Donald Trump praised Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday, crediting him with stabilizing the war-torn country and treating its Kurdish population well. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said al-Sharaa is "doing a phenomenal job." Trump's Assessment "He's a rough guy. He's not a choir boy. A choir boy couldn't do it, but Syria is coming together, really coming together well," Trump stated. The president added that al-Sharaa has been "very good" to the country's Kurdish population. The remarks mark some of the most positive US commentary on Syria's new leadership since Bashar al-Assad's ouster in 2024. Shifting US-Syria Relations The praise follows recent US decisions to withdraw remaining troops from Syria and growing diplomatic engagement with Damascus. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended working with the new administration, arguing the alternative—Syrian fragmentation, terrorism, and Iranian influence—is far worse. The Trump administration has also credited al-Sharaa with preventing ISIS prisoners from escaping and cooperating on counterterrorism efforts.