AP PHOTOS: Trump continues four-day Middle East tour to boost US-Gulf ties

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U.S. President Donald Trump met Wednesday with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the first such encounter between the two nations’ leaders in 25 years. The meeting, on the sidelines of Trump get-together with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, marks a major turn of events for a Syria still adjusting to life after the over 50-year, iron-gripped rule of the Assad family.

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Syrians took to the streets in cities across the country to celebrate following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will ease sanctions and move to normalize relations with the new government to give the country “a chance at peace.” (AP video shot by Ghaith Alsayed and Omar Al Bam /Production by Malak Harb)

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President Donald Trump tours the St. Francis Church at the Abrahamic Family House, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump shakes hands with with Yousif Al Obaidli, director of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, during a tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump smiles on stage at the Al Udeid Air Base, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Qatar Air Force F-15 jets perform a flyover as Air Force One is ready to depart from Al Udeid Air Base, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump waves before departing on Air Force One at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump shows the guest book after touring the Abrahamic Family House, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump gestures on stage at the Al Udeid Air Base, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump salutes as he departs on Air Force One at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump tours the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue at the Abrahamic Family House, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump tours the Eminence Ahmed El-Tayeb Mosque at the Abrahamic Family House, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani gestures next to President Donald Trump at Al Udeid Air Base, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump walks on stage at the Al Udeid Air Base, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump speaks, seated between Kelly Ortberg President and CEO of Boeing, left, and Larry Culp, CEo of GE Aerospace during a business roundtable, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump speaks during a business roundtable, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump speaks, seated between Kelly Ortberg President and CEO of Boeing, left, and Larry Culp, CEO of GE Aerospace during a business roundtable, in the presence of Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, left, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attends along with President Donald Trump a business roundtable, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump speaks, seated between Kelly Ortberg President and CEO of Boeing, left, and Larry Culp, CEO of GE Aerospace during a business roundtable, in the presence of Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump is greeted by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as he arrives on Air Force One at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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In this photo released by the Saudi Royal Palace, President Donald Trump, centre, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio , third from right, meet with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, second left, and with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, second right, in Riyadh, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Bandar Aljaloud/Saudi Royal Palace via AP)

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President Donald Trump speaks during the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani take part in an official welcoming ceremony at the Amiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani welcomes President Donald Trump during an official welcoming ceremony at the Amiri Diwan in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shake hands after exchanging documents during a signing ceremony at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Members of a traditional Saudi honor guard with their golden swords wait for the arrival of President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an arrival ceremony at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump arrives with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the group photo with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders during the GCC Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speak during a coffee ceremony at the Royal Terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump arrives with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a coffee ceremony at the Royal Terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks as they meet delegations during an arrival ceremony at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump speaks with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for International Affairs Al Sayyid Asaad Tariq Taimur Al Said, center, and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as they arrive to attend a group photo with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders during the GCC Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump walks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an arrival ceremony at the Royal Terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump gestures to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he greets Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, Saudi ambassador to the United States, at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025 (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pose for a photo at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

By ALEX BRANDON

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as he continues his three-nation visit this week meant to tackle multiple crises and conflicts across the Middle East.

The meeting, on the sidelines of Trump’s get-together with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, marks a major turn of events for a Syria still adjusting to life after the over 50-year, iron-gripped rule of the Assad family.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.