Not a problem for Trump. He’s eager to make ‘deals’.
The placement of 700,000 Syrians is a “Strategic resource” for Syria. Not for Germany.
“I think I will. Why wouldn’t I? He’s done a great job,” Trump responded when reporters asked if Syria could be stricken from the list.
Trump said Syria has become “very stable” under Sharaa’s leadership and “we’re proud of that.”
Trump also suggested Syria “could help with Hezbollah,” the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group that has attacked Israel from both Lebanese and Syrian soil.
President Trump has spoken highly of Sharaa since their first meeting at the White House in November 2025, despite the Syrian leader’s history as a member of al-Qaeda and his time in prison after being captured by U.S. forces in Iraq. Trump described Sharaa as a “young, attractive guy” and a “tough guy” with a “very strong past” after that meeting.
Sharaa led an alliance of insurgents and jihadis to overthrow Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in December 2024, bringing a surprise end to the long and brutal Syrian civil war. Sharaa has shown interest in mending fences with the United States and European nations and his government is not overly fond of Assad’s former patrons, Russia and Iran.
Trump lifted what sanctions he could from Syria by executive order in June 2025, and a few months later Congress permanently repealed sanctions that were imposed against the Assad regime. The repeal was unconditional, but Congress included a requirement for periodic reports on counter-terrorism and human rights progress under Sharaa’s government.
The Treasury Department removed Syria from its list of “Specially Designated Global Terrorists” in November 2025, at the same time the United Nations removed Syria from its own sanctions list.
As of Wednesday, Syria remains on the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list, a much more exclusive document that currently names only three other nations: Cuba, North Korea, and Iran.
Syria has rejected Germany’s plan to return over 700,000 Syrian refugees to their home country. “We categorically reject any attempts at forced deportation,” said Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. He added that Syrians in Germany are a “strategic resource” rather than a burden.
