President Donald Trump is hosting Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House on Tuesday, months after publicly backing the political novice in his ascent to power. Al-Zaidi, a businessman with no prior political experience, became a consensus candidate for prime minister following a protracted deadlock in Iraq after last year’s parliamentary elections.
Trump had voiced strong opposition to other potential candidates, notably former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom the Trump administration views as too closely aligned with Iran. In April, Trump stated on social media that al-Zaidi’s selection marked “the beginning of a tremendous new chapter between our Nations — Prosperity, Stability, and Success like never seen before.”
The issue of Iran and its influence in Iraq is anticipated to be a central theme in the discussions. Iraq has been under pressure to disarm various Iran-backed militias operating within its borders. Some of these groups have targeted U.S. bases and diplomatic facilities. The Iraqi government has officially set a September deadline for non-state armed groups to disarm, though some of the more powerful militias have indicated they will not comply.
A Trump administration official indicated that decisions regarding U.S. engagement would be informed by Iraq’s progress in disarming these militias. Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq Initiative at the Chatham House think tank, suggested that the U.S. would likely exert significant pressure on al-Zaidi regarding disarmament. Mansour also noted that al-Zaidi might request intelligence, technical, and armed support from the U.S. in return, as confronting these groups could pose a risk to the Iraqi government itself.
Al-Zaidi's appointment occurred despite his past role as chairman of Al-Janoob Islamic Bank. This bank was among those banned by Iraq's central bank in 2024 from conducting dollar transactions as part of U.S.-led efforts to curb money laundering and the channeling of funds to Iran.
Since assuming office, al-Zaidi has publicly emphasized efforts to combat corruption. His government has carried out raids and made arrests of numerous current and former lawmakers and government officials, including some associated with former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, on corruption charges.
Al-Zaidi's delegation to Washington includes Iraqi businessmen and government officials. His office stated the visit aims to bolster economic and development partnerships, attract U.S. investment, expand the role of American companies in infrastructure projects, and further develop Iraq’s energy sector.