More than 80 Christian leaders called on Trump to discuss religious persecution in Syria with President al-Sharaa.

Christian Leaders Address Trump on Syria’s Minorities

Over 80 Christian leaders reached out to President Donald Trump during his meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shallah on Monday. Their letter highlighted the dire situation faced by persecuted religious minorities in Syria, including Christians and Druze.

In the letter, dated November 7, Dede Laugesen, president of the advocacy organization, urged President Trump to discuss the genocide concerning Christians, Kurds, Druze, and Alawites, particularly in the Suwayda region, during President al-Sharaa’s visit on November 10, 2025. Laugesen referred to Trump as “the only major world leader fighting for religious freedom” and pointed to his condemnation of the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

The letter painted a grim picture: “Innocent women and children are being held hostage by ISIS terrorists while facing ongoing violence, death, displacement, hunger, and lack of access to essential needs.” While the leaders expressed gratitude for the Trump administration’s recent decision to provide humanitarian aid to southern Syria, they pressed for more proactive measures to avert a looming crisis as winter nears.

They requested that the president secure al-Shara’s commitment to establishing a safe humanitarian corridor from Hader to Suwaida. This corridor would enable effective delivery of aid and safe evacuation for civilians, showcasing the new government’s dedication to minority rights and stability.

The letter featured notable signatories such as Dr. Ben Carson and Dr. Eric Metaxas, both of whom are involved with the White House Commission on Religious Freedom, along with Sam Brownback, the former Ambassador for International Religious Freedom; Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council; and several pastors and faith leaders.

This meeting marks the first visit by a Syrian president to Washington since Syria’s independence in 1946. Al-Sharaa previously led al-Qaida’s Syrian branch, al-Nusra Front, before taking office after the ousting of former president Bashar al-Assad in December last year.

According to reports, Syria is now the 90th country joining the international coalition against ISIS. Following the meeting, Trump expressed optimism about Syria’s future, saying, “We want to see Syria become a very successful country,” and showed support for al-Shallah, indicating, “I really think so.”

In a significant diplomatic shift, the U.S. also allowed Syria to reopen its embassy in Washington, as relations had been suspended since 2012. Al-Shara, now serving as interim president, is working on improving his country’s image and rebuilding after years of conflict.