In a historic and controversial moment, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa — once known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the feared al-Qaeda commander — walked into the White House to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday. Once hunted by Washington with a $10 million bounty, al-Sharaa is now being welcomed as a partner, marking a stunning shift in Middle East diplomacy. The meeting aims to secure a political win for Trump, counter Russian influence in Syria, and support a fragile regional peace framework after the Israel–Hamas truce. Yet the visit raises global questions about morality, power, and realpolitik in Washington’s new Middle East strategy.