A Syrian-born billionaire's alleged efforts to leverage Trump-branded business ventures and high-level political access have drawn scrutiny following a The New York Times investigation detailing how foreign commercial interests intersected with U.S. policy decisions during Donald Trump's administration, particularly the repeal of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act.
At the center of the reporting is Mohamad Al-Khayyat, whose family business is tied to more than $12 billion in reconstruction contracts linked to Syria. According to the investigation, the Al-Khayyat family engaged in a coordinated lobbying campaign in Washington aimed at dismantling U.S. sanctions that had effectively blocked international financing for Syrian rebuilding projects.
The report describes how Mohamad Al-Khayyat cultivated relationships with lawmakers, including Joe Wilson, presenting a vision for a large-scale Mediterranean development that included a luxury golf course branded under the Trump name. The project concept featured high-end amenities such as a cruise port, polo club and luxury retail elements.
In a symbolic gesture highlighted by the investigation, Al-Khayyat presented a carved foundation stone labeled "Trump International Golf Club, Syria" to Wilson for delivery to the White House, underscoring how the Trump brand was positioned as a conduit for political engagement. The reporting suggests the branding carried perceived influence in efforts to gain attention from administration officials.
The lobbying campaign extended beyond symbolic outreach. The Al-Khayyat family attended high-level political events and engaged with members of Congress while advocating for repeal of the Caesar Act, a sanctions regime originally designed to pressure the Syrian government by restricting financial flows tied to reconstruction.
A spokesperson for the president, David Warrington, told The New York Times, "President Trump performs his constitutional duties in an ethically sound manner and to suggest otherwise is either ill-informed or malicious." The Trump Organization separately stated that there were no active discussions or agreements related to a golf project in Syria.
Parallel to the Washington lobbying effort, the Al-Khayyat family pursued business ventures tied to the Trump family abroad. Brothers Moutaz and Ramez Al-Khayyat entered a joint venture with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump to develop a $1.4 billion resort on Sazan Island in Albania, a project approved in late 2024.
Ramez Al-Khayyat confirmed the arrangement, stating, "We are investing in the holding company to make sure it has sufficient capital. So it is a joint venture between the two companies, and we are actually managing it together." The project is structured through Kushner's Affinity Partners and a network of foreign-linked entities tied to the Khayyat family.
Both parties have denied any connection between the Albanian development and lobbying efforts related to U.S. sanctions policy. Nonetheless, the overlap between political advocacy and commercial partnerships has intensified debate about the boundaries between public policy and private business interests.
The policy shift itself came with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, which included provisions repealing the Caesar Act. The Senate approved the legislation by a 77-20 vote, reflecting bipartisan support. Jeanne Shaheen, a key architect of the repeal, said, "Today's repeal of the Caesar Act is a decisive step toward giving the Syrian people a real chance to rebuild after decades of unimaginable suffering."
