Leadership Shift in Middle East Means Another Problem for Trump to Solve

What Happened?

A surprising turn of events unfolded Sunday after the sudden fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family's reign.

Assad, 59, reportedly fled the country after nearly 14 years of trying to hold onto control amid Syria's civil war conflict since 2011.

But all of that changed after rebels stormed the capital city of Damascus, causing Assad and his family to flee to Moscow, Russia.

Assad succeeded his father Hafez al-Assad who died back in 2000, in which many thought he would take a more reformed approach of leadership that differed from that of a 'dictator.'

The ongoing civil war has claimed more than 500,000 lives and left millions of people displaced across the country from their homes.

Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) group's leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, who has been designated a terrorist by the United States since 2013 and fought alongside al Qaeda in Iraq, has now taken over the helm as Syria's new leader in charge.

Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali, who remained in his post after Assad and most officials fled over the weekend, has sought to project normalcy amid the sudden shift in the country's atmosphere.

Why it Matters

With many foreign affairs up in the air, the to-do list for President-elect Donald Trump is getting longer.

‘It certainly seems like the world is going a little crazy right now,’ Trump said in a clip posted Saturday on the media platform Truth Social during his visit with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

Trump also took to the platform in response to the rebels who stormed the capital of Damascus and wrote in block capital letters, “The United States should have nothing to do with it. This is not our fight. Let it play out. Do not get involved."

Trump has campaigned strongly on the focus of foreign policy, staying out of foreign conflicts, and 'preventing World War 3.'

That effort would certainly include ending the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as well as the hope of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led Palestine groups along the Gaza Strip.

Some reports suggest that despite Trump's wishes to disengage the U.S. from Middle Eastern war zones, the fall of the al-Assad family regime in Syria will certainly create new possibilities that will demand his immediate attention once he returns to office.

How it Affects You

Many have been anticipating a shift in the overall landscape of foreign affairs and world economics when Trump returns.

Not to mention his stance on inflation and tariffs.

Trump has vowed to end the Ukrainian-Russia conflict within a day of his presidency. His actions within his first 90 days of office will have an underlying effect on his ability to restore global confidence in America and its role in the world.