Donald Trump has reinstated direct US flights to Lebanon, ending a four-decade ban, following a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House. The ban, implemented by the Reagan administration in 1985 after a TWA hijacking by Hizbollah, was lifted by Trump via a post on his Truth Social platform.

Despite this development, the meeting yielded limited other substantial outcomes for Aoun, who seeks US support for a deal with Israel amidst Lebanon's instability. Aoun emphasized the critical role of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in maintaining security, warning of collapse without their support. His government faces pressure to demonstrate the effectiveness of a US-brokered deal with Israel, amid ongoing displacement and Israeli military actions in southern Lebanon.

Trump expressed sympathy for Lebanon's situation, describing it as having been "treated incredibly badly." However, the tangible benefits for Aoun upon his return to Beirut remain uncertain, particularly as Trump's proposed 2027 budget seeks to reduce funding for the LAF. Trump did not provide a timeline for an Israeli withdrawal but stated he would "be looking at" recent incidents involving Israeli fire near Lebanese forces.