Trump buys time with Syria sanctions waiver as Congress wrestles over repeal
Before his Oval Office visit, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with a key lawmaker whose support is needed to repeal the Caesar Act.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has issued another six-month sanctions waiver for Syria as lawmakers weigh whether to permanently repeal the US law that the White House says is preventing the country’s reconstruction.
The move comes as Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and President Donald Trump met at the White House on Monday, marking the first such visit by a Syrian president. The pair first met on the sidelines of Trump's trip to Riyadh in May, where he pledged to reset relations with Syria and lift all sanctions on the country.
"We want to see Syria become a country that's very successful, and I think this leader can do it," Trump told reporters after the meeting.
High on Sharaa’s agenda was seeking relief from sanctions that remain under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, a 2019 law that aimed to financially isolate the Assad regime, which Sharaa's former rebel group overthrew late last year.
