Trump and Lebanon’s Aoun discuss Israel deal, Hezbollah and strengthening the army
US President Donald Trump hosted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House for the first visit by a Lebanese president in nearly two decades
US President Donald Trump hosted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House for the first visit by a Lebanese president in nearly two decades. Trump described Lebanon as a "very mistreated country" and pledged US support, saying "we're going to help it a lot." President Aoun thanked Trump for what he called a "historic achievement"—the signing of a framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel aimed at ending the state of hostility between the two countries.
Trump confirmed he would raise the issue of Lebanon's 1955 law criminalising contact with Israelis as part of expanding the Abraham Accords. On Hezbollah, Trump said "we've done some things that I think the world will take notice," while Aoun dismissed opposition from Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, saying the framework does not require parliamentary endorsement and is a presidential prerogative. Aoun also requested US political and military support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), describing it as "the backbone of security and stability" and warning that without it, "everything will collapse." On Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, Trump said Israeli forces are "in the process" of redeploying but acknowledged he had heard reports of Israeli forces opening fire near Lebanese troops in pilot zones and said he would look into it.
Trump also addressed the broader conflict with Iran, claiming Iran "desperately wants to meet" to end hostilities but that the US has "no interest in meeting" until they are ready to do so in a meaningful way. He said US strikes have
degraded Iran's capabilities and warned that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, adding that the US would hit any site where Iran is "even thinking about nuclear." Find us on Check our website Check out our Instagram page Download AJE Mobile App
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