Fact Check: Trump surprised officials by lifting sanctions on Syria without warning.

Fact Check: Trump Surprised Officials by Lifting Sanctions on Syria Without Warning

What We Know

On May 23, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Syria General License (GL) 25, which effectively lifted sanctions on Syria. This action was part of President Trump's announcement regarding the cessation of all sanctions against Syria, aimed at encouraging new investment and private sector activity in the country (Treasury Issues Immediate Sanctions Relief for Syria). The sanctions had been in place for over a decade due to the Assad regime's actions, including human rights abuses and support for terrorism (Trump pledges to lift Syria sanctions as he seals $142bn arms ...).

Trump's announcement was made during a visit to Saudi Arabia, where he indicated that lifting the sanctions was a move requested by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He stated, "Oh, what I do for the crown prince," suggesting that the decision was influenced by diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia (Trump pledges to lift Syria sanctions as he seals $142bn arms ...).

The lifting of sanctions was characterized as a surprise, particularly because it was not widely anticipated by officials or analysts prior to the announcement (Experts react: Trump just announced the removal of all US sanctions on ...).

Analysis

The claim that Trump surprised officials by lifting sanctions on Syria without warning is supported by multiple sources. The announcement was indeed unexpected, as many officials within the administration had differing views on how to approach the situation in Syria (Experts react: Trump just announced the removal of all US sanctions on ...). Reports indicate that there was no prior indication that such a significant policy shift would occur during Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, which adds weight to the assertion that it was a surprise (Trump shocks and delights Syrians by lifting sanctions after 45 years).

However, the context of the announcement is crucial. While the lifting of sanctions was sudden, it was part of a broader strategy that Trump had hinted at during earlier discussions, particularly regarding U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia and the need for economic development in the region (Trump pledges to lift Syria sanctions as he seals $142bn arms ...). This suggests that while the specific timing and manner of the announcement may have been unexpected, the underlying intention to ease sanctions was not entirely out of the blue.

In evaluating the sources, the Treasury Department's press release is a primary source that provides official confirmation of the sanctions being lifted and the rationale behind it (Treasury Issues Immediate Sanctions Relief for Syria). Other sources, such as the BBC and NBC News, provide context and reactions that help illustrate the surprise element of the announcement, but they may also carry some bias depending on their editorial stance (Trump pledges to lift Syria sanctions as he seals $142bn arms ..., Trump shocks and delights Syrians by lifting sanctions after 45 years).

Conclusion

The claim that Trump surprised officials by lifting sanctions on Syria without warning is Partially True. While the announcement was indeed unexpected and caught many off guard, it was not entirely without precedent, as discussions about easing sanctions had been part of broader diplomatic conversations. The surprise primarily lies in the timing and the manner of the announcement rather than the policy shift itself.

Fact Check: Trump surprised officials by lifting sanctions on Syria without warning.