‘Trump effect?’: Syria’s Islamist leader, Iran & Hamas congratulate new US president

As President Donald J. Trump assumed office on Monday for a second term, the much talked about “Trump effect” seemed to be in full force, as allies, rivals and even enemies of the U.S. publicly congratulated the new president.

One of the most surprising well-wishers was Syria’s new de-facto leader, Ahmad al-Shara’a (formerly al-Jolani), who just a month ago was still a U.S.-designated Islamist terrorist with a price of $10 million on his head.

In a public statement written in English, Shara’a congratulated Trump in the name of Syria’s new administration led by his Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham group.

Noting that the past decade had brought much suffering on his nation, Shara’a added: “We are confident that [Trump] is the leader to bring peace to the Middle East and restore stability to the region.”

NEW - #HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa issues an English statement congratulating @realDonaldTrump on becoming US President.

He calls for creating “a partnership” between #Syria & #America. pic.twitter.com/NBQZUF7jhw

— Charles Lister (@CharlesLister) January 20, 2025

“We look forward to improving the relations between our two countries based on dialogue and understanding,” Shara’a wrote, noting that he believed under Trump’s leadership, their nations “will take the opportunity to form a partnership that reflects the aspirations of both nations.”

Shara’a’s statement is highly extraordinary, as he personally has a past of violent attacks on U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Syria, while his Islamist group has expressed enmity toward the U.S. and support for other Jihadist groups, like Hamas.

In addition, Syria was an integral part of Iran’s explicitly anti-American “Axis of Resistance” until HTS expelled the Assad regime.

Despite Shara’a’s past, the U.S. has signaled tacit acceptance of his new government in Syria by lifting his terrorist designation and sending delegations to meet with him.

Another extraordinary sign of respect, apprehension, or even fear of the new U.S. President came Monday, when Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk expressed hope that his terror group could turn a new page in its relations with the U.S.

“We’re prepared for a dialogue with America and achieving understandings on everything,” said Abu Marzouk. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization in the U.S. since 1997.

While Abu Marzouk’s statement is not the official Hamas position for the moment, it is another clear signal that American enemies across the Middle East are at least trying to get off on the right foot with the new president.

Abu Marzouk even suggested Hamas would welcome a U.S. envoy to visit Gaza. “He can come and see the people and try to understand their feelings and wishes so that the American position can be based on the interests of all the parties, and not only one party,” he said.

Meanwhile, the main regional rival of the U.S., the Iranian regime, also expressed hope for better relations with the incoming Trump administration, which had instituted a “maximum pressure” campaign on the regime during its first term. Trump also ordered the assassination of Quds Force leader Brig.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

“We hope that the approaches and policies of the [new] US government will be realistic and based on international law and respect for the interests and desires of the nations of the region, including the Iranian nation,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday.

Baqaei also warned against triggering the “snap-back” sanctions that are part of the nuclear deal instituted by President Obama, lifted by Trump and reinstated by President Biden. The triggering of the sanctions would cause a “proportionate and reciprocal” response, Baqaei threatened.

“Abusing this mechanism will mean that there will no longer be a justification or reason for Iran to remain in some relevant agreements,” he said.

Iran will be seeking the mediation of leaders from Iraq, now maybe its most important state ally in the region, to facilitate talks with the new administration about its nuclear program, UAE-based news outlet Erem News reported.

Iraqi leaders also congratulated Trump upon reassuming the presidency. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani stated: “The Iraqi government is committed to maintaining and expanding strategic relations with the United States.”

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid added, “We reaffirm our commitment to promoting security and stability in our region and around the world, while strengthening the ties between our two nations to achieve shared goals and mutual interests.”