A palace press conference turned ugly when visiting U.S. envoy Tom Barrack described reporters at Baabda as “animals, chaotic, uncivilized,” in comments captured on a live feed and shared widely online. Hours later, the Lebanese presidency issued a statement saying it “regrets the words uttered from its podium by one of its guests,” reaffirming the state’s “absolute respect for human dignity” and its “full appreciation” for accredited journalists.
The dust-up came the same day President Joseph Aoun hosted a U.S. delegation that included Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Lindsey Graham and Representative Joe Wilson, alongside Barrack and Morgan Ortagus, with U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson in attendance. The talks focused on Lebanon’s plan—pushed by Washington—to concentrate all arms under state control and ultimately disarm Hezbollah as part of a broader truce architecture with Israel.
Barrack’s visit follows stops in Israel and earlier regional shuttle diplomacy. Reuters and other outlets have reported that Washington is pressing for a Lebanese disarmament roadmap and reciprocal steps from Israel, while regional partners weigh economic incentives tied to stabilization.
In parallel, the presidency highlighted the U.S. delegation’s swing through Damascus and conveyed what it said were encouraging signals from Syria about improving ties with Beirut—language that dovetails with Aoun’s recent public posture of rejecting all foreign interference while seeking pragmatic diplomacy with neighbors.