Mark Savaya, appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump as special envoy for Iraq in October, is no longer serving in the position, according to sources familiar with the decision.
The change comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Baghdad, particularly over U.S. efforts to limit Iranian influence in Iraqi politics.
Savaya, a Christian Iraqi-American entrepreneur, was among several Arab Americans appointed to senior roles by Trump, who actively courted Arab and Muslim voters during the 2024 presidential campaign, especially in Detroit and other key communities.
The reasons for Savaya’s departure remain unclear, and it is not known whether a replacement will be named. One source said Savaya mishandled several key issues, including failing to block the nomination of former Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki to return to the post — a move Trump had publicly warned Baghdad against.
According to one source and a senior Iraqi official, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack is expected to take over responsibility for the State Department’s Iraq portfolio. A spokesperson for Barrack declined to comment.
The State Department referred questions to the White House, which also declined to comment on Savaya’s status or on any potential successor.
Reached by Reuters on Thursday, Savaya denied any change in his position, saying he was still completing administrative procedures to formally assume the role. However, a source familiar with the matter said Savaya was never officially employed by the State Department.
Savaya’s account on X, previously active, has been unavailable since Thursday. He did not respond to follow-up requests on Friday and Saturday seeking clarification on his status or the removal of his account.
Savaya, who runs a cannabis business in Detroit and is closely linked to Trump, was seen as an unusual choice for the role due to his lack of diplomatic experience. Two sources said he never made an official trip to Iraq after his appointment. He had been scheduled to visit Iraq and meet senior officials last Friday but abruptly cancelled the trip, according to two Iraqi officials.
The personnel shift comes just days after Trump warned that the United States would withdraw support from Iraq if it reinstated Maliki as prime minister. Maliki, who has been accused by the U.S. of fuelling sectarian divisions and enabling the rise of Islamic State during his tenure, had been nominated by Iraq’s largest parliamentary bloc days earlier.
Trump’s warning marked his strongest move yet to counter the influence of Iran-aligned factions in Iraq, a country that has long sought to balance relations between Washington and Tehran.