Trump-appointed Iraq envoy Mark Savaya steps down

Mark Savaya, who was appointed by US President Donald Trump as special envoy for Iraq in October, is no longer serving in that capacity, according to sources familiar with the decision.

His departure comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Baghdad over US efforts to limit Iranian influence in Iraqi politics, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Savaya, a Christian Iraqi-American entrepreneur, was one of several Arab Americans appointed to senior positions by Trump, who actively sought to gain support from Arab and Muslim voters during the 2024 presidential campaign in Detroit and across the United States.

Details surrounding the reasons for Savaya’s exit or whether a successor will be named remain unclear. 

One source cited Savaya’s “mishandling” of critical issues, including his inability to prevent the nomination of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as Iraq’s next premier, a choice Trump had explicitly warned Baghdad against.

US Ambassador to Türkiye and special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, who recently travelled to Erbil to meet with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, is believed to be assuming responsibility for the State Department’s Iraq portfolio, according to both the source and a senior Iraqi official. Barrack’s spokesperson declined to comment. The State Department referred inquiries to the White House, which also declined to comment on Savaya’s status or potential replacements.

Savaya, who previously ran a cannabis business in Detroit and maintains close personal ties to Trump, was an unexpected choice for the envoy role given his lack of diplomatic experience. Sources said he has not made any official trips to Iraq since his appointment. 

A visit planned for January 30 to meet with senior Iraqi officials was abruptly cancelled, according to two Iraqi officials.

The personnel change follows Trump’s recent warning that the US would withdraw support from Iraq if Maliki were again appointed prime minister. Maliki, whom US officials have accused of fueling sectarian conflict and facilitating the rise of ISIS during his previous term, had been nominated for the role by Iraq’s largest parliamentary bloc just days prior.

Trump’s remarks represent the most direct signal yet of his campaign to reduce the influence of Iran-aligned factions in Iraq, a country that has long navigated a delicate balance between its two closest allies, Washington and Tehran.

By Jeyhun Aghazada