US President Donald Trump meets Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the Oval Office at the White House, Washington, DC, on July 21, 2026. (Credit: Saul Loeb/AFP)
Following his meeting with President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to give the green-light to U.S. airlines to begin flying directly to Lebanon:
"After meeting with the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, who has done a remarkable job working to transform his Country, I am hereby directing my Administration to allow all U.S. airline carriers to fly directly to Lebanon so that Americans can easily visit this beautiful land. Hopefully, other Countries will do the same. Enjoy! President DONALD J. TRUMP"
Earlier in the day, Massad Boulos, Donald Trump’s special adviser on African and Arab affairs, had told MTV that “the meeting between Presidents Aoun and Trump was excellent, historic and fruitful, particularly with regard to support for the Lebanese Army."
Boulos also stated that “the two presidents discussed the issue of direct flights between Lebanon and the United States,” adding that “certain administrative procedures still need to be examined in this regard” and expressing the hope that they “will not take long."
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