Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is set to visit the White House this week for his first meeting with United States President Donald Trump. The visit comes at a critical time for Lebanon as the country continues to deal with ongoing conflict, political instability and the presence of Israeli forces in parts of southern Lebanon. Aoun is expected to seek stronger American support to help secure Israel’s withdrawal while presenting a plan to reduce Hezbollah’s military influence.
The meeting marks the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to the White House in nearly two decades. According to Lebanese officials, Aoun will present Trump with a written proposal outlining how Hezbollah’s weapons could gradually be brought under state control. Lebanese authorities believe the United States has the influence needed to encourage Israel to withdraw its troops and support efforts to restore Lebanon’s full sovereignty.
Speaking before his visit, Aoun said he would ask Trump to place greater pressure on Israel to implement the agreement reached between the two countries on June 26 with American mediation. The agreement calls for the gradual disarmament of Hezbollah, the phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon and the creation of conditions that could eventually lead to more peaceful relations between the neighbouring countries.
Lebanon continues to face major challenges following years of conflict. Hundreds of thousands of people remain displaced after Israeli military operations, while Hezbollah has rejected direct negotiations with Israel and continues to oppose government efforts to give the state exclusive control over weapons. These disagreements have made the issue of Hezbollah’s future one of the country’s most sensitive political questions.
Joseph Aoun, who became president last year after serving as commander of the Lebanese army, has made strengthening state institutions one of his main priorities. His election was welcomed by the United States and reflected changing political circumstances following the weakening of Hezbollah during the 2024 conflict with Israel and the fall of its longtime Syrian ally Bashar al Assad.
During his inauguration, Aoun pledged that the Lebanese state should have sole authority over armed forces within the country. Over the past year, the Lebanese army has collected several Hezbollah weapons caches in southern Lebanon under the terms of an earlier ceasefire agreement. These operations were carried out without major resistance from the group, which had suffered significant losses during the conflict.
However, tensions rose again earlier this year after Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel in support of Iran during a period of fighting involving the United States and Israel. Israel responded with extensive air strikes and ground operations across Lebanon. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, more than 4,300 people have been killed during the conflict, including hundreds of women, children and medical workers, although the figures do not distinguish between civilians and fighters.
Aoun has openly criticised Hezbollah for drawing Lebanon into another war and has argued that the country should not bear the consequences of regional conflicts. His decision to support direct talks with Israel represented a major shift in Lebanese policy and led to the highest level of contact between the two countries in decades. The move also attracted strong criticism from Hezbollah and its supporters.
Beyond security issues, Aoun has promised to pursue long delayed economic reforms and seek justice for victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion. His upcoming meeting with Trump is expected to focus on security, regional stability and Lebanon’s efforts to strengthen state authority while addressing the country’s continuing political and economic challenges.
