Trump Welcomes Iraqi PM al-Zaidi to White House, Reaffirms Strong US-Iraq Partnership

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Trump and al-Zaidi in White House.

US President Donald Trump welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi to the White House on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, during the Prime Minister’s official visit to the United States.

Trump greeted al-Zaidi on the White House lawn before making a brief statement to reporters, saying: “We love Iraq, and this man will represent Iraq very well.”

Strong and Enduring Partnership

Following the welcome ceremony, President Trump described the relationship between the United States and Iraq as strong and enduring, praising Iraq as “a great country”. He commended Prime Minister al-Zaidi’s leadership and confirmed that plans for the withdrawal of the international coalition from Iraq were progressing smoothly.

Speaking alongside al-Zaidi at a joint press conference, Trump said it was “a great honour” to host the Iraqi Prime Minister. He expressed confidence that al-Zaidi’s influence would extend beyond Iraq and that he would become “a leader in the Middle East”.

Trump also praised the Prime Minister’s performance, describing him as a strong leader and highlighting the close ties between the two countries.

The US President noted Iraq’s vast oil reserves and said Washington expected to conclude several major energy agreements with Baghdad. He added that the United States would no longer require a military presence in Iraq as the coalition’s withdrawal plans continued as scheduled.

Trump also reiterated Washington’s support for the Iraqi government’s efforts to ensure that the state retains the exclusive authority over the use of force.

‘Kurdistan is an Important Part of Iraq’

Prime Minister al-Zaidi said his visit to Washington aimed to announce a joint strategic partnership and reaffirmed that the United States remains Iraq’s most important strategic partner.

He said the talks focused on the future of bilateral relations and noted that Iraq’s security forces were fully capable of protecting the country’s territory. Al-Zaidi added that there would be no need for armed factions after 30 September, stating that a significant quantity of weapons had already been received from some groups and that the government would cooperate with those choosing to transition into political activity.

On economic relations, the Prime Minister said more American companies would enter the Iraqi market and stressed Iraq’s desire to secure what he described as a fair share within OPEC.

Al-Zaidi also said Iraq’s losses as a result of terrorism had exceeded $400 billion, adding that “Kurdistan is an important part of Iraq.”

Bilateral Talks Focus on Economy and Security

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, Trump and al-Zaidi discussed strengthening bilateral relations, expanding economic cooperation, and increasing opportunities for American companies to participate in development projects in Iraq, particularly in the oil sector.

The two sides also exchanged views on security and intelligence cooperation, as well as joint efforts to promote stability across the region.


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