Trump Withdraws Rayburn's Nomination Amid Controversy

President Donald Trump has decided to withdraw his nomination of Joel Rayburn as assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. Rayburn, who served as an envoy for Syria during Trump's first term, was nominated in February to oversee Middle East policy at the State Department.

The nomination faced resistance from Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Concerns included Rayburn's potential involvement in misleading officials about U.S. troop numbers in Syria during Trump's first term, a claim Rayburn denied at his confirmation hearing in May.

The White House has yet to comment on the withdrawal, initially reported by Axios. Rayburn previously served in the State Department and National Security Council during Trump's first administration.