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Cologne restocked after White House
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa thanked US President Donald Trump after receiving two more bottles of Trump’s self-branded fragrances, posting on X on Tuesday, May 19 that “Some meetings leave an impression; ours apparently left a fragrance.”
“Some meetings leave an impression; ours apparently left a fragrance”
People reported that Trump had first gifted al-Sharaa bottles of his “Victory 47” men’s cologne and women’s perfume during al-Sharaa’s trip to Washington last fall, with a note on White House stationery reading: “Ahmed, they’re all talking about the picture we took when I gave you this great cologne — Just in case you ran out!”
The Times of Israel said Sharaa’s thanks came as a callback to their historic November meeting, when Trump lavished his fragrance on the Syrian jihadist-turned-statesman in the Oval Office.
The Straits Times reported that Sharaa was the first Syrian leader to visit the White House since the country’s independence in 1946, and that he posted the new gift after the November video resurfaced showing Trump spraying him and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.
In the same context, The Times of Israel said the cologne’s website describes the fragrance as embodying “strength, power, and victory.”
Viral joke returns with note
The New Arab said Sharaa’s latest thank-you post followed the viral November moment when Trump sprayed Sharaa and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani with his own-brand “Victory” cologne while asking how many wives he had.
In that same account, Sharaa’s X post included the message: “Some meetings leave an impression; ours apparently left a fragrance. Thank you, Mr. President @realDonaldTrump, for your generosity and for topping up this precious gift.”
The Jerusalem Post described the earlier meeting as one where Trump said “It’s the best fragrance,” and also said Trump joked about whether Sharaa had more than one wife.
WION reported that the follow-up gift came with Trump’s handwritten note reading: “Ahmed, They’re all talking about the picture we took when I gave you this great cologne — In case you ran out!”
The Times of Israel added that after the November meeting, a video emerged showing Trump gifting Sharaa his cologne, spraying some on him and on Asaad al-Shaibani, and that Trump also gifted a perfume box for Sharaa’s wife while jokingly asking “how many wives” he had.
Sanctions pause and relationship stakes
WION said the gift arrived as the United States extended its pause on sanctions against Syria for another 180 days, while Sharaa posted the photo of two bottles of Trump’s “Victory” cologne alongside Trump’s handwritten note.
“the United States extended its pause on sanctions against Syria for another 180 days”
People reported that Trump first gifted the fragrances during al-Sharaa’s trip to Washington last fall, and that al-Sharaa had been placed on the U.S. Specially Designated Global Terrorist list in 2013.
The Straits Times said Trump ended sanctions and took other steps to boost Sharaa at the urging of the Syrian leader’s allies Saudi Arabia and Turkey, despite Israeli misgivings.
The Jerusalem Post framed the cologne diplomacy as arriving while Damascus sought closer ties with the US and played a “pivotal role in the region” by helping countries with exports amid the Iran conflict.
In the same analysis, The Jerusalem Post said Syria met with Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization director Ibrahim Kalın in Damascus on Tuesday, and that SANA reported “Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and General Intelligence Apparatus Chief Hussein al-Salamah attended the meeting.”
