Donald Trump sends cologne to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa

On May 19, 2026, Syrian transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa posted a photograph on social media showing two bottles of 'Victory' cologne sent to him by U.S. President Donald Trump. The gift included a handwritten note from Trump referencing their previous meeting in Washington, D.C., in November, where Trump had famously sprayed the fragrance on al-Sharaa. The note read, 'Ahmed, everyone is talking about the photo we took when I gave you this amazing cologne—in case you ran out!' In his post, al-Sharaa thanked Trump for his generosity and expressed hope that the spirit of their meeting would strengthen bilateral relations between Syria and the United States. During the November meeting, videos captured Trump applying the cologne to the Syrian leader and joking about the number of spouses al-Sharaa had. The Washington meetings were facilitated months prior by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This exchange highlights the unconventional diplomatic interactions currently characterizing the relationship between the two leaders.