Mark Savaya - appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump in October as the special envoy for Iraq - is no longer serving in that capacity, multiple people familiar with the matter said. His exit arrives amid mounting strains between Washington and Baghdad tied to U.S. efforts to reduce the influence of Iran-linked groups in Iraqi political life.
Savaya, a Christian Iraqi-American entrepreneur, was one of several Arab Americans named to senior posts by Trump, who campaigned actively in 2024 to attract Arab and Muslim voters in Detroit and elsewhere in the United States. The immediate cause of Savaya's departure has not been publicly confirmed, and it is unclear whether a successor will be named.
One source cited Savaya's "mishandling" of several sensitive situations, specifically pointing to his inability to prevent the nomination of former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki as Iraq's next premier - a development that President Trump had publicly warned Baghdad to avoid. The source suggested that this episode was among the reasons behind the personnel change.
According to that source and a senior Iraqi official, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack - who traveled to Erbil earlier this week to meet with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces - is believed to be assuming responsibility for the State Department's Iraq portfolio. A spokesperson for Barrack declined to comment when contacted about the reported reassignment.
The State Department directed inquiries to the White House, and the White House declined to comment on Savaya's status or any potential replacement.
When contacted on Thursday, Savaya denied that his role had changed, saying he was still completing administrative procedures required for him to formally assume the position and that he expected the process to conclude soon. His social media account on X, which remained active until recently, has not been available since Thursday. He did not reply to follow-up messages on Friday and Saturday requesting clarification about his status and the removal of his X account.
Savaya has close ties to Trump and previously ran a cannabis business in Detroit. His selection as envoy drew notice because he has no diplomatic experience. Two sources said he has not officially traveled to Iraq since his appointment. He had been scheduled to visit Iraq and meet senior Iraqi officials last Friday, but that trip was abruptly canceled, two Iraqi officials said.
The personnel change follows a period of heightened rhetoric from the White House about Iraq's political choices. Days earlier, President Trump warned that if Iraq again selected Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister, Washington would no longer support the country - a major oil producer and long-standing U.S. partner. The U.S. has accused Maliki of aggravating sectarian tensions and enabling the rise of the Islamic State during his previous time in office. Maliki had been nominated for the premiership by Iraq's largest parliamentary bloc just days prior to the warning.
Trump's public statements are among the clearest examples yet of his administration's push to reduce the sway of Iran-aligned groups inside Iraq. The country has historically balanced relations with both Washington and Tehran, and developments in Baghdad have continued to test that equilibrium.
Summary
Mark Savaya, named in October as the U.S. special envoy to Iraq, is reported to no longer hold the role. Sources link the move to perceived missteps, including failure to head off the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki. Tom Barrack is believed to be taking over Iraq responsibilities in the State Department, while official comment from the State Department and White House was declined.
- Key points
- Mark Savaya is reported to have left his role as U.S. special envoy to Iraq; reasons remain publicly unconfirmed.
- Sources cited Savaya's "mishandling" of situations including the failure to prevent Nouri al-Maliki's nomination; Tom Barrack is believed to be assuming the Iraq portfolio.
- The episode occurs amid growing U.S.-Iraq tensions over efforts to curb Iran-linked influence and follows President Trump's warning to Baghdad regarding continued U.S. support if Maliki becomes prime minister.
- Sectors impacted
- Energy - Iraq is described as a major oil producer and U.S. warnings could affect energy-sector risk perceptions.
- Diplomacy and security - shifts in U.S. diplomatic staffing and rhetoric influence regional security and foreign policy dynamics.
- Risks and uncertainties
- Unclear leadership in the U.S. Iraq portfolio - the absence of an officially confirmed envoy may complicate coordination on political and security issues (impacts diplomacy and defense sectors).
- Potential reduction in U.S. support if Maliki becomes prime minister - could raise strategic and energy-market risks given Iraq's role as a major oil producer.
- Limited transparency - Savaya's denied role change while sources report his exit, and his social media account removal leaves questions about official communications and timelines.