Tom Barrack said his Golan Heights remark was historical, not a policy shift.
Why it matters: The clarification preserves the Trump administration's stance on the Golan Heights, but it also highlights how quickly U.S. envoy remarks can trigger diplomatic friction. The territory remains a flashpoint for Israel, Syria and the broader U.N.-backed position.
- AP reported Aug. 23 that Barrack walked back comments he made two days earlier calling Israel's hold on the Golan Heights occupation.
- Barrack said U.S. policy on the Golan was set by President Donald Trump in 2019 and remains unchanged.
- Trump's March 25, 2019 proclamation recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel, reversing decades of U.S. policy.
- The U.N. and most of the international community still regard the Golan Heights as occupied Syrian territory.
U.S. special envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack clarified comments that appeared to contradict the Trump administration's position on the Golan Heights, saying his earlier wording was about the territory's history, not U.S. policy. AP reported that Barrack made the original remark on Friday, Aug. 21, then tried to narrow it on Sunday, Aug. 23 after the comment drew backlash in Washington.
Barrack said, "United States policy on the Golan was set by President Trump in 2019 and is unchanged." He also said his earlier language was "a description of the territory’s historical status, not an endorsement of the United Nations’ position."
The issue is sensitive because Trump formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights on March 25, 2019, through a White House proclamation. The U.N., by contrast, still treats the area as occupied Syrian territory and does not recognize Israel's annexation, which Israel carried out in 1981 after capturing the territory in the 1967 Mideast war.
Barrack's remarks were made in an interview with Lebanese-Australian entrepreneur Mario Nawfal. AP said the comments prompted criticism in Washington, underscoring how off-script language from a senior U.S. envoy can quickly create diplomatic headaches.
Read AP's report here, the Trump proclamation here, and the U.N. resolution here.
By the numbers
- 2019 - Trump proclaimed U.S. recognition of the Golan Heights as part of Israel
- 1981 - Israel annexed the Golan Heights
- 1967 - Israel captured the Golan Heights in the Mideast war
Yes, but: Barrack's correction did not change policy on paper, but it exposed how politically charged the Golan issue remains.