"Tremendous Chemistry": Trump Welcomes New Iraqi PM During White House Visit
President Donald Trump hosted Iraq's new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, at the White House to discuss economic partnerships and regional security. The meeting focused on Iraq's commitment to disarming Iran-backed militias operating within its borders.
Why it matters
The meeting signals a shift in US-Iraq relations and highlights the ongoing pressure on the Iraqi government to manage internal security threats linked to regional tensions with Iran.
President Donald Trump gave Iraq's new prime minister an effusive welcome at the White House on Tuesday, promoting the "tremendous chemistry" between him and a fellow wealthy businessman who arrived at the seat of governmental power without any prior political experience.Ali al-Zaidi emerged as a consensus candidate in Iraq after months of deadlock over the premiership following last year's parliamentary elections. Trump endorsed al-Zaidi for the job after he threatened to cut off U.S. support for Iraq if another candidate became the country's next prime minister."Mark my words, I knew what I was doing," Trump said in the Oval Office as he sat alongside al-Zaidi for his first visit outside Iraq as prime minister. "This man is going to be a great leader in the Middle East, beyond Iraq.
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