Lebanon's Aoun to meet Trump at White House, hoping to generate pressure on Israel
By Maya Gebeily
Published on July 19, 2026.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is set to make his first visit to the White House to present a plan to U.S. President Donald Trump on how to disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and secure Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon. Aoun, who served as the commander of Lebanon's U.K.-backed army before being elected president last year, is the first Lebanese head of state in nearly 20 years to visit the Whitehouse. He plans to present Trump with a written proposal on how Hezbollah can decommission its massive arsenal and help Lebanon restore its sovereignty. Despite criticism from Hezbollah and its supporters, Aoun has stood firm against their demands for a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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