‘How many wives?’ Trump asks Syria’s President Al-Sharaa during White House meeting

A viral video from the visit captured an unusually light exchange between the two leaders. Trump is seen presenting Al-Sharaa with a bottle of perfume, spraying it on him and joking, “It’s the best fragrance… and the other one is for your wife.” Turning playful, he then asked, “How many wives?” When Al-Sharaa replied, “one,” Trump laughed and quipped, “You never know!”

During the meeting, Al-Sharaa presented Trump with replicas of ancient Syrian artefacts — which he said symbolised “the first alphabet in history, the first stamp, the first musical note, and the first customs tariff.” Trump, acknowledging his guest’s tumultuous background, commented, “We’ve all had rough pasts, but he has had a rough past. And frankly, if you didn’t have a rough past, you wouldn’t have a chance.”

Al-Sharaa, 43, came to power last year after his forces toppled former president Bashar al-Assad in a rapid offensive that ended on December 8. His government has sought international legitimacy and the permanent repeal of US sanctions imposed under the Caesar Act, which punished Damascus for alleged human rights abuses during Assad’s rule.

While Trump’s administration has paused those sanctions, a full repeal would require congressional approval, a step that remains uncertain amid continued debate in Washington over the US’s engagement with Al-Sharaa’s regime.