When French President Emmanuel Macron warmly shook hands with Syria’s jihadi-linked President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Paris this week, it was not only an act of diplomatic cowardice—it was a betrayal of Western values and a slap in the face to every victim of radical Islamic terrorism.
Let’s be crystal clear about who Macron chose to welcome into the heart of Europe. Ahmed al-Sharaa is no statesman. He is a former member of al-Qaeda and ISIS, and now leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a terrorist offshoot responsible for untold violence and religious persecution in Syria. Al-Sharaa’s government proudly includes sanctioned terrorists like Anas Hasan Khattab—men who have openly called for jihad and the destruction of Western civilization.
Yet, shamefully, the French government rolled out the red carpet, legitimizing a regime that has not only terrorized its own people but has blood on its hands from attacks on innocents worldwide. Macron’s spokesman insisted France wasn’t being naïve, claiming the talks would focus on a “free, stable, sovereign Syria,” and the usual diplomatic fluff about “fighting terrorism.” But the bitter irony is clear: Macron is pretending to fight terrorism by embracing a terrorist.
This isn’t complicated. It’s a moral outrage. The French government’s hypocrisy is breathtaking. They even went so far as to apply for a special exemption from the United Nations to bypass al-Sharaa’s travel ban, bending over backwards to welcome a man who should be behind bars, not dining at the Élysée Palace.
French conservative firebrand Marion Maréchal nailed it perfectly, calling Macron’s decision the “handshake of shame” and rightfully calling out the disgraceful optics. Marine Le Pen also chimed in, labeling the visit “folly” and reminding Macron that he was hosting “members of organizations that want to attack France.” Indeed, how quickly Macron forgets the horrors that Islamic extremism has visited upon French soil.
The justification offered by Macron’s government—that embracing al-Sharaa could somehow help stabilize Syria and alleviate Europe’s migrant crisis—is as dangerous as it is delusional. Europe’s migrant crisis isn’t solved by making deals with terrorists; it’s solved by securing borders, enforcing immigration laws, and asserting national sovereignty—the very principles our own President Trump has championed relentlessly, resulting in historic security at America’s borders.
Macron’s willingness to negotiate with jihadi extremists is just another example of the feckless, liberal internationalist mindset that has driven Europe into a state of perpetual crisis. Instead of confronting evil, Europe’s globalist elites prefer appeasement and moral relativism, hoping they can somehow talk their way out of confronting radical Islam. History shows us plainly how this strategy ends—in more violence, more chaos, and more innocent bloodshed.
Under President Trump, America has taken a very different path. Trump has stood firm against terror-supporting regimes, cutting off funding, imposing tough sanctions, and unequivocally condemning terrorism at every turn. Trump has understood what Macron refuses to see: that you don’t make deals with evil, you don’t legitimize terrorists, and you don’t compromise your values to appease radicals who hate the West.
Make no mistake, Macron’s handshake with al-Sharaa sends a dangerous signal to every terrorist group around the globe: violence pays. If radical Islamists can seize power and still receive recognition from major European powers, why would they ever stop waging jihad?
The West stands at a crossroads. We can continue down the path of appeasement, moral cowardice, and surrender—or we can stand tall, defend our borders, protect our people, and uphold the principles that made Western civilization the envy of the world. Macron has made his choice, and history will judge him harshly for it.
America’s choice under President Trump is clear: unwavering strength, principled leadership, and an uncompromising commitment to protecting our citizens from the scourge of radical Islamic terror. France—and the rest of Europe—would do well to follow our lead.
