- Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa filmed scrolling Instagram at UNGA.
- Incident occurred during Turkish President Erdogan's address to assembly.
- Social media users reacted with amusement, calling him a millennial.
United Nations: The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly opened in New York on Tuesday with sharp diplomatic confrontations, walkouts and public disagreements over Gaza, Iran, Cuba and the broader global order. However, amidst these serious issues, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, an earlier US-designated terrorist, was filmed scrolling through Instagram Reels on his phone while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the Assembly. The footage quickly circulated on social media.
The footage, captured inside the General Assembly hall, quickly spread across social media. In the video, al-Sharaa appears seated among the delegates, eyes fixed on his smartphone as he browses short video clips, seemingly detached from the proceedings around him. Erdogan was speaking at the time, continuing Turkey’s regular interventions on regional issues on the UN platform.
Footage published by Israeli media purportedly shows Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa scrolling through Instagram while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was delivering a speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/DTtGLTMO3x
— Karwan Faidhi Dri (@KarwanFaidhiDri) September 22, 2026
The incident stood in sharp contrast to the otherwise tense atmosphere that marked the first day of the high-level debate. The session had already seen walkouts by the Cuban and Iranian delegations during US President Donald Trump’s speech, sharp exchanges over the Gaza conflict between Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, and a standing ovation for outgoing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Social media users react to Syrian President's Insta addiction
Social media users reacted with a mix of amusement and criticism, with some calling it a sign of disinterest and others simply finding the moment relatable.
"He truly is a millennial. He had a "rebellious" phase when he was younger 😂. Now he has a grown-up job wearing a suit and tie, scrolling Instagram during meetings," read the post of a social media user.
I guess President Jolani just doing multitasking like a pro and looks like even leaders need a break
— Tracy Trends (@cebozzyy) September 23, 2026
"Yep, he's cool. He's one of us millennials. I'd be doomscrolling too if I were over there listening to some boring bullshit, when at the end of the day each country is going back to their own bullshit," wrote another user.
Yep, he's cool. He's one of us millennials. I'd be doomscrolling too if I were over there listening to some boring bullshit, when at the end of the day each country is going back to their own bullshit.
— Patrick Thach (@thachp) September 23, 2026
The 81st UN General Assembly is being held under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.” The high-level debate continues until 28 September.