President Donald Trump hosted Iraq's new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, at the White House on Tuesday, a visit underscoring Trump's strong endorsement of the political newcomer. Al-Zaidi, a businessman with no prior political experience, secured the premiership in Iraq following months of political deadlock after last year's parliamentary elections.
Trump had publicly backed al-Zaidi's ascent, stating in April that his selection marked "the beginning of a tremendous new chapter between our Nations — Prosperity, Stability, and Success like never seen before." This support emerged after the Trump administration expressed opposition to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom the U.S. views as too closely aligned with Iran.
Trump had previously threatened to reduce U.S. aid to Iraq if al-Maliki were appointed, asserting that "if we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom." The issue of Iran's influence in Iraq is expected to be a significant topic of discussion during al-Zaidi's visit. Iraq faces pressure to disarm Iran-backed militias operating within its borders, some of which have targeted U.S. facilities. The Iraqi government has set a deadline of the end of September for these groups to disarm, though some powerful militias have indicated they will not comply.
Ahead of the meeting, a Trump administration official indicated that U.S. decisions would be informed by Iraq's progress in disarming these militias. Analysts have drawn parallels between al-Zaidi and Trump, noting both men's business backgrounds and outsider status in politics. However, experts also caution that al-Zaidi faces significant challenges within Iraq's existing political system and may be beholden to the factions that supported his nomination.
"The reality is much more complicated," said Victoria Taylor, director of the Iraq Initiative at the Atlantic Council, referring to al-Zaidi's position. "I’m not always sure that there’s a full appreciation of the challenge that this prime minister will face in actually trying to really dismantle core parts of the political system," she added, highlighting potential obstacles in addressing corruption and disarming militias.
Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq Initiative at the Chatham House think tank, anticipates that the U.S. will press al-Zaidi on disarmament, with the Iraqi prime minister likely requesting U.S. support, including intelligence, technical, and armed assistance. Mansour also noted the Iraqi government's apprehension about potential retaliation from militias if it moves against them.
Beyond security concerns, the two nations are nearing the finalization of a significant energy deal. An agreement is reportedly slated to be signed this week between Iraq, U.S. companies Chevron and TI Capital, and Qatar's UCC for the construction of an oil pipeline. This pipeline is intended to connect southern Iraq's Basra to Haditha in western Iraq, and subsequently to Turkey's Ceyhan port and Syria's Baniyas coast, with a projected capacity of 2 million barrels of oil per day.
Notably, al-Zaidi's background includes his tenure as chairman of Al-Janoob Islamic Bank, which was among the financial institutions banned by Iraq's central bank in 2024 from dollar transactions amid U.S. pressure to combat money laundering and fund diversion to Iran.
Since assuming office, al-Zaidi has publicly initiated a crackdown on corruption, leading to the arrest of dozens of current and former officials, some linked to the previous administration. His delegation in Washington includes Iraqi businessmen and government officials, with the stated goal of strengthening economic and development partnerships, attracting investment, and expanding the role of U.S. companies in infrastructure projects and the energy sector.