US President Donald Trump asked a surprising question to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during a White House meeting on Monday, an exchange that quickly went viral online.
Trump welcomed the 43-year-old Syrian leader in the Oval Office, marking the first visit by a Syrian president to the United States in nearly 80 years. In an unusual moment, Trump presented Sharaa with a bottle of Trump perfume.
“This is men’s fragrance, here,” Trump said to a laughing Sharaa. He sprayed the scent on the Syrian president and added, “It’s the best fragrance.” He then joked, “The other [perfume] is for your wife. How many wives do you have?”
Sharaa assured him he had one wife. Trump patted his arm and said, “With you guys I never know." Later in the video, Sharaa appeared to turn the tables and asked Trump how many wives he has. “Uh, right now one,” Trump replied, prompting laughter.
After the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social, praising Sharaa’s efforts in the Middle East. “It was an Honor to spend time with Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, the new President of Syria, where we discussed all the intricacies of PEACE in the Middle East, of which he is a major advocate,” he posted. “I look forward to meeting and speaking again. Everyone is talking about the Great Miracle that is taking place in the Middle East. Having a stable and successful Syria is very important to all countries in the Region.”
Sharaa was once branded a terrorist by the US for fighting in Iraq, but shifted to political leadership after helping oust Bashar al-Assad in 2024. His militant group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, was removed from the US terrorism list in July, and the $10 million bounty for alleged war crimes was lifted.
Trump previously met Sharaa in May, calling him a “young, attractive guy, tough guy. Strong past, very strong past. Fighter.”
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