Syria’s Sharaa Proposes Trump Tower, Israel Peace in Bid to Meet Trump
Sharaa spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday. A person close to Sharaa said a meeting with Trump in Saudi Arabia remained “possible,” though no invitation had been confirmed.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is pushing for a face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump during the latter’s visit to the Middle East, offering a dramatic set of proposals that include a Trump Tower in Damascus, normalization with Israel, and American access to Syrian oil and gas, according to Reuters.
The initiative is part of a broader diplomatic overture aimed at repositioning Syria on the international stage after more than a decade of war and crippling sanctions. The move comes despite Sharaa’s continued U.S. designation as a terrorist due to past links to al-Qaeda.
According to multiple sources familiar with the campaign, the proposal is being championed by Jonathan Bass, a U.S. pro-Trump activist who held a four-hour meeting with Sharaa in Damascus on April 30. Bass and several Gulf Arab allies are working behind the scenes to broker a symbolic — though highly unlikely — meeting between Trump and Sharaa during the U.S. president’s stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE this week.
“Sharaa wants a business deal for the future of his country,” Bass told Reuters, emphasizing that the Syrian leader’s priorities include economic revival, regional stability, and rapprochement with Israel. “He told me he wants a Trump Tower in Damascus. He wants peace with his neighbors. What he told me is good for the region, good for Israel.”
The Syrian presidency did not respond to requests for comment, but confirmed that Sharaa spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday. A person close to Sharaa said a meeting with Trump in Saudi Arabia remained “possible,” though no invitation had been confirmed.
Unlikely But Strategic
U.S. officials, while acknowledging a recent uptick in diplomatic contact with Damascus, downplayed the likelihood of a Trump-Sharaa summit. A high-level meeting is expected to occur during Trump’s regional visit, but not between the two leaders directly.
“There is definitely a push underway,” said Charles Lister, Director of the Syria Initiative at the Middle East Institute. “The idea is that getting to Trump directly is the best avenue because there are just too many ideologues within the administration to get past.”
Sharaa’s outreach taps into Trump’s record of breaking foreign policy norms, as seen in his 2019 meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Supporters of the initiative believe Trump could be receptive to a bold diplomatic gesture if framed as a business and security opportunity.
Bass also claimed Sharaa feels a personal connection with Trump, citing their shared experiences of surviving assassination attempts.
Stalemate on Sanctions and Security
While Syria has made overtures, the U.S. remains firm on its demands, including the removal of foreign fighters from Syrian leadership and military ranks. A recent meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and U.S. officials in New York included a State Department counterterrorism official — signaling Washington’s continued focus on extremism, according to Reuters.
The U.S. Treasury has added additional conditions for sanctions relief, now totaling more than a dozen. The State Department has declined to disclose further details to AFP, citing diplomatic confidentiality.
White House National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt told Reuters that Syria’s actions, not promises, would determine future U.S. policy.
Olive Branch Meets Airstrikes
As part of its overture, Syria has conveyed messages of peace to Israel, which has escalated airstrikes following the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Israeli strikes, including one near the presidential palace, have been described as warnings to safeguard Syria’s Druze minority amid rising tensions with Sunni militant groups.
Sharaa acknowledged indirect talks with Israel, facilitated by the UAE, and even tasked Bass with relaying messages to Israeli officials. But hopes of dialogue quickly faltered.
“Sharaa sent the Israelis an olive branch. Israel sent missiles,” Bass said. “We need Trump to help sort this relationship out.”
Whether the unprecedented proposals lead to any breakthrough remains uncertain, but the message from Damascus is clear: Syria is seeking reintegration through bold diplomacy, strategic business incentives, and unconventional channels.
