"I'm pleased to announce Mark Savaya will serve as Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq. Mark's deep understanding of the Iraq-U.S. relationship, and his connections in the region, will help advance the interests of the American people," the US president wrote on Truth Social.
The newly appointed envoy is a Trump donor based in Michigan. Savaya, a Chaldean of Iraqi descent, is an entrepreneur and business mogul and owns a cannabis dispensary in Detroit.
"Mark was a key player in my campaign in Michigan, where he, and others, helped secure a record vote with Muslim Americans," said Trump, congratulating his new representative in Iraq.
Based on social media posts, Savaya appears to enjoy a close relationship with the president, with the new special envoy's Instagram account featuring multiple photos of the pair together at different events and on a golf course.
Trump-appointed envoys have played a salient role in projecting US influence in the Middle East, with Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack having played a key role in Damascus' transition following the deposition of former leader Bashar al-Assad, and Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner having been intimately involved in the peace process between Israel and Hamas.
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