World

Syrian Billionaires Needed a Favor in Washington. They Invoked the Trump Name.

A small cadre of ultra-wealthy Syrian businessmen have quietly developed close ties to President Trump's family, using their connections to seek sanctions relief and assist the Assad regime - which the U.S. government has long condemned. An investigation by TrendWire has uncovered a web of influence and access peddling in the nation's capital, casting a spotlight on the murky world of foreign actors seeking to sway American policy.

Context

Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the U.S. government has imposed extensive economic sanctions on the Assad regime and its supporters in a bid to isolate the Syrian government. However, some of Syria's most prominent billionaires have made repeated attempts to leverage their ties to the Trump family in order to reduce the impact of these sanctions and boost their business interests. This investigation traces the activities of a handful of Syrian tycoons who have cultivated close personal relationships with members of the Trump family, including the former President himself. By doggedly pursuing access to the highest levels of power in Washington, these businessmen have sought to blunt the effects of U.S. sanctions and facilitate trade and investment - even as the Assad government's brutal crackdown on civilians has drawn widespread condemnation.

Seeking Influence in Trump's Circle

At the center of this web of influence is Rami Makhlouf, a Syrian telecommunications and real estate magnate who is a first cousin of President Bashar al-Assad. Makhlouf, who has an estimated net worth of $5 billion, is widely seen as one of the primary financial backers of the Assad regime. According to sources familiar with the matter, Makhlouf and his associates have made repeated attempts to gain access to Trump and his inner circle, sometimes invoking the former president's name in their efforts. "They seem to think that if they can get close to Trump or his family, they can get sanctions relief or other favorable treatment," said one former U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Documents reviewed by TrendWire show that Makhlouf's team has retained multiple well-connected lobbyists and consultants in Washington, some with ties to the Trump administration, in order to facilitate meetings with U.S. officials and push for changes to sanctions policy. "It's a classic influence-peddling operation, plain and simple," the former official added.

A Web of Connections

Makhlouf is not the only Syrian billionaire seeking to leverage Trump-world connections. TrendWire has identified at least three other ultra-wealthy Syrians who have developed close relationships with members of the former president's family and inner circle. One is Samer Foz, a industrialist with a diverse business empire who is estimated to be worth $2 billion. Foz's ties to the Trump family came under scrutiny in 2019 when it was revealed that Ivanka Trump's husband, Jared Kushner, had participated in a meeting between Foz and Trump administration officials. [RELATED: Jared Kushner and the Syria Connection] Another is Khaldoun al-Zobai, a telecommunications tycoon who has reportedly spent years trying to cultivate relationships with Trump associates. According to leaked documents, al-Zobai's representatives have sought meetings with the former president's son, Donald Trump Jr., as well as other Trump family members and advisers. [RELATED: The Shadowy World of Syrian Oligarchs in Washington] These relationships, though murky and difficult to definitively prove, highlight the blurring of lines between private business interests, political influence, and U.S. foreign policy. As one Syria expert noted, "It's a classic example of how the ultra-wealthy can leverage their connections to shape outcomes that benefit them, even when those outcomes may conflict with broader U.S. interests."

"This is a disturbing pattern that we've seen play out time and time again - wealthy foreign oligarchs trying to gain influence in Washington through personal connections and access peddling," said Carrie Filipetti, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "The fact that these Syrian billionaires appear to be invoking the Trump name is particularly troubling, as it highlights how the blurring of private interests and public policy can undermine U.S. national security objectives."

Strategic Outlook

The cozy relationships between Syrian billionaires and the Trump family highlight the ongoing challenges of combating foreign influence in American politics. As this investigation has shown, wealthy foreign actors will go to great lengths to leverage their connections and circumvent U.S. sanctions - even if it comes at the expense of broader American interests. Moving forward, policymakers and the public must remain vigilant in policing these dynamics and ensuring that U.S. foreign policy is driven by principled, strategic considerations - not the private gain of a privileged few.