Lindsey Graham says Trump is slowing down his Syria troop withdrawal, will protect the Kurds and thwart Iran

Sen. Lindsey Graham on lunch with Trump
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/CNN)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close ally of President Trump who has been sharply critical of his plans to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, emerged from a two-hour lunch at the White House on Sunday saying he felt "a lot better" about the situation. He suggested that Trump has slowed down his troop withdrawal. "I think we're in a pause situation where we are re-evaluating what's the best way to achieve the president's objective of having people pay more and do more," Graham told reporters outside the White House.

Graham didn't elaborate, but The New York Times speculates he "may have been referring to assurances that Mr. Trump is said to have given some military officials that they can have more time than 30 days to ensure a proper drawdown of troops." Graham later went on Twitter to reiterate the main points he took away from his meeting with Trump, though with few details on how Trump will achieve these goals:

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.