U.S. President Donald Trump pledged stronger American support for Lebanon on Tuesday as he hosted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House, describing Lebanon as a country that has suffered for decades while expressing confidence that it can regain stability and prosperity under its legitimate government.

The meeting marked the first visit by a Lebanese president to the White House in more than 17 years and came at a pivotal moment for Lebanon, as Israeli forces continue to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, hundreds of thousands remain displaced by Israeli military operations, and Hezbollah continues to reject the Lebanese government's direct negotiations with Israel and efforts to disarm the group.

Trump praised Lebanon's people and vowed that Washington would help the country recover.

"The relationship is very good," Trump said at the start of the meeting. "I think that Lebanon has been a very mistreated country for a long period of time."

Calling Lebanon "an amazing group of people" with "professors, doctors, lawyers, great intellects," Trump said the country had endured decades of hardship but retained a population deeply committed to their homeland.

"They love the country. They would not leave under any circumstance," he said, adding that despite the dangers, many Lebanese choose to remain because of their attachment to their country.

"It's been hit very, very hard," Trump said. "We're going to help it. We're going to help it a lot."

He added that the United States would ensure Lebanon receives the respect it deserves.

"It's been a very badly treated place and country, and we're going to have it properly treated, and treated with the respect that it deserves," Trump said.

Aoun hails "historic achievement"

Aoun thanked Trump for what he described as the "historic achievement" of reaching the recently signed U.S.-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

"I would like to thank President Trump and his team for the historic visit and for the historic achievement that we did together by signing the framework with the ultimate objective of ending the state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel forever," Aoun said.

"I think, Mr. President, this will be your legacy."

The Lebanese president said both leaders shared the same vision for regional peace and stability.

"It's about time for Lebanon and for the whole region to be stable and secure," he said. "I know your vision is peace. Your vision is stability. My vision coincides with your vision, and together I think we will be able to achieve success."

Trump responded by praising Aoun's leadership and optimism.

"You have a tremendous spirit on your side. You have people that love that country, and they're going to make it work. We're going to make it work," he said.

Hezbollah remains central issue

Trump acknowledged that Hezbollah remains Lebanon's biggest challenge.

"As you know, there's a Hezbollah problem," he said. "But we've done some things that I think the world will take notice."

Asked whether he was communicating with Hezbollah, Trump clarified that while no such talks were underway, he would be willing to engage if requested by the Lebanese president.

"I wouldn't say that, but I would speak to Hezbollah," Trump said. "I speak to everybody. I'll speak to people that a lot of people think I shouldn't be speaking to, and things work out."

"If the president wanted me to speak to Hezbollah, he's lived with Hezbollah for a long time, and if the president wanted me to speak to Hezbollah, I would."

Israeli withdrawal underway

Responding to questions about Israeli troops remaining in southern Lebanon, Trump said Israeli forces were already in the process of withdrawing.

"They're in the process of doing that," he said. "They're in the process of redeploying to other sections."

He described the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel as "a great agreement."

When asked about reports that Israeli forces had opened fire near Lebanese Army deployments in one of the newly established pilot zones, Trump said he had only recently been informed of the incident.

"I just heard about that before this conference," he said. "We'll be looking at that."

Support for the Lebanese Army

Aoun emphasized that strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) was essential to preserving Lebanon's stability and implementing the framework agreement.

He revealed that he had previously told Trump he needed two forms of American assistance.

"I need two things from you: political support and supporting the LAF," Aoun said.

Describing the military as Lebanon's most trusted institution, Aoun said public confidence remained its greatest asset.

"The Lebanese Armed Forces is the backbone of security and stability," he said. "Without the LAF, everything will collapse."

He recalled that during Lebanon's civil war in 1975, the collapse of the army paved the way for the emergence of militias and left southern Lebanon vulnerable.

"We don't want to see that back again," he said.

Aoun said the Lebanese Army was fulfilling its responsibilities and deserved continued American backing.

"I fully trust the LAF. I fully trust the leadership of the LAF."

Trump confirmed military assistance would be among the main topics discussed during their private talks.

"We're going to be speaking about that today," Trump said. "We have some very concrete plans already in store for that."

Direct U.S.-Lebanon flights under consideration

Trump also indicated that Washington would explore restoring direct commercial flights between the United States and Lebanon.

Asked whether such flights could resume, Trump replied: "I can see that happening, absolutely."

Berri backs ending the conflict, Aoun says

Asked about criticism of the agreement from Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Trump invited Aoun to respond.

Aoun said the framework agreement does not require parliamentary approval because it falls within the constitutional authority of the presidency.

He also rejected suggestions that Berri opposed the initiative.

"I think the Speaker of Parliament really wants to see the end of this war," Aoun said.

Calling Berri "a man of state," Aoun said the speaker supports ending hostilities despite the sensitivity of his position as leader of Lebanon's Shiite community.

"He's supportive of what we are doing, and he's supportive of ending the state of hostility, ending the war once for all."

Trump added that he believed Berri would ultimately support the process as progress continued.

"When he sees the progress made, I'm sure he's going to come on," Trump said.

Syria and regional diplomacy

Trump also commented on the possibility of Syria playing a role in efforts to disarm Hezbollah.

Asked whether he still supported Syrian involvement, Trump said it remained "a concept."

"We get along very well with the President of Syria," Trump said, adding that Syria's leadership had "done a very good job" and that Damascus had long fought Hezbollah.

"I think it'd be very effective," he said.

Trump reiterates pressure on Iran

The U.S. president also repeated his hardline stance on Iran, saying Tehran's military and nuclear capabilities had suffered severe setbacks.

He claimed Iran would require "20 to 25 years" to rebuild if U.S. operations ended immediately.

"We've had a big success," Trump said.

Addressing reports that Iran may have transferred nuclear centrifuges into the deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain facility, Trump said the United States was monitoring the situation.

"They may have," he said, adding that centrifuges alone posed no threat without nuclear material.

"We follow the material. That's where the action is."

He warned that the United States would strike any site linked to Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"We'll be hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily," Trump said. "Any site where they're even thinking about nuclear, we'll be hitting it very, very powerfully."

"You won't leave empty-handed"

Asked what tangible achievements Aoun would bring back to Lebanon from Washington, Trump declined to provide details.

"You'll find out," he said.

The White House meeting followed previous contacts between the two leaders and underscored Washington's renewed diplomatic engagement with Beirut, with both presidents presenting the framework agreement as the foundation for ending decades of conflict and restoring stability to Lebanon.