Trump's Middle East Pivot? (w/ Greg Priddy)

President Donald Trump’s Gulf trip in May 2025 offered more than just photo ops and billion-dollar deals; it signaled a shift in America’s posture toward the region. From flashy personal business signings to a notable departure from the Bush-era “freedom agenda,” Trump’s visit drew regional praise for its message of humility and realism, even as it stirred controversy back home. His decision to lift sanctions on Syria without preconditions and his hands-off approach to Israeli normalization efforts revealed a broader recalibration of U.S. ambitions in the Middle East. Does this trip mark a strategic pivot or simply a tactical pause in America's regional engagement?

In this episode, Paul Saunders speaks with Greg Priddy, a Senior Fellow for the Middle East at the Center for the National Interest. Priddy consults for corporate and financial clients on political risk in the region and previously served as Director for Global Oil at Eurasia Group.

Music by Sonican from Pixabay.