How Many Lebanese Leaders Have Visited The USA?

Ever wonder how many Lebanese leaders have made the trek across the Atlantic on official state visits to the United States? Well, we have the answer for you right here. Exactly 20 official visits have occurred since Lebanon’s independence in 1943, with the first being the visit of Prime Minister Saeb Salam in 1960, and the last being the visit of PM Saad el Hariri in 2017.

According to the Office of the Historian at the US State Department, only 1 visit occurred before the outbreak of the Civil War in 1975, while 5 were between 1982 and 1991, and a further 14 came after 1992. The most prolific visitor is Rafic el Hariri, who made the journey to the USA 6 times, meeting Presidents Clinton and Bush on private, state, and UN trips.

In second place, Saad el Hariri, Michel Suleiman, and Amine Gemayel are tied with three visits each. Gemayel’s three visits occurred in quick succession, with him making three official working visits in just 1982 and 1983. Other visitors include Elias Hrawi (2 visits), Salim el Hoss (1 visit), and Fouad el Sanioura (1 visit).

The longest gap between visits by the same person is held by Rafic el Hariri, with his first visit on September 27, 1993, and his last on November 17, 2002, a 9 year gap. The shortest gap is held by Amine el Gemayel, who visited on July 19, 1983, then on November 30, 1983. a 4 month gap.

Lebanon’s leaders have been welcomed by the following US Presidents: Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barrack Obama, and Donald Trump.. However, the visits were never reciprocated, with no US President making the journey to Lebanon in all of its history. Lebanon is joined by Cyprus, Yemen, and most of Africa in the honour of never welcoming a sitting US President.

For more history, check out all of our Historical Snapshots right here on Beirut.com