At a reception held on Tuesday at the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, Morgan Ortagus, Deputy Special Envoy of US President Donald Trump for the Middle East, reaffirmed the Trump administration’s focus on the region and delivered a strong message of support for Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
A Tribute to President Aoun
In her remarks, Ortagus offered glowing praise for President Aoun’s leadership, describing him as a rare figure willing to make difficult decisions in the face of national crises.
“There are few leaders with true courage, those willing to take bold decisions to change their country’s course. I saw that courage in Joseph Aoun,” she said. “I saw a leader determined to take the necessary, decisive actions to set Lebanon back on the path to recovery.”
A Call for Bold Leadership
“The only way Lebanon can reach its full potential is through strong and courageous leadership,” Ortagus stated, urging support for leaders committed to deep reform.
“Lebanon needs figures like President Aoun, the Prime Minister, leaders willing to make the tough but essential choices: reforming, rebuilding the economy, restoring state institutions and reestablishing the state's exclusive control over arms and basic services.”
A Message to the Lebanese People and Their Diaspora
Ortagus also paid tribute to the Lebanese diaspora in the United States, calling it “one of the most successful, educated and vibrant communities in the world.” Whether in Lebanon or abroad, she stressed, the mission remains the same: not simply to repair the country, but to reimagine it.
“This is not about returning to 1975 or the so-called ‘glory days.’ It’s about building a future that is brighter and more prosperous than anything Lebanon has known. And I believe Lebanon has what it takes.”
A Presidential Visit and Regional Priority
Ortagus confirmed that President Donald Trump will soon make his first official visit to the Middle East, with a stop planned in Saudi Arabia.
“The Middle East remains a strategic priority for the US administration,” she noted, while reflecting on the context of her own appointment to the region. “When President Trump named my director, Steve Witkoff, as his Special Envoy, I was honored to be chosen as his deputy. From day one, we began assessing the many challenges that have built up in recent years.”
“We inherited a region in turmoil, marked by chaos and conflict. But President Trump is committed to his promise of being a president of peace, and that is exactly what we’re working toward,” she added.
A Vision for Lebanon’s Future
Ortagus concluded her speech by delivering a firm message of hope and responsibility, “Lebanon is standing at the threshold of a new era. If you choose this path—if you make the hard decisions I’ve spoken about—then President Trump, his administration and the United States will stand with you every step of the way. But there is no turning back. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past. The only way forward is through strengthening the state, pursuing reform and fully reviving the nation, not just returning to past glories, but building something even greater.”
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