ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s appointment of Mark Savaya as Special Envoy for Iraq as indicative of Erbil and Baghdad's status as catalysts of regional stability.
In a post on X, President Barzani wrote, “I welcome President Donald J. Trump’s appointment of Mr. Mark Savaya as Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq,” adding, “this decision underscores the strategic importance of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in advancing our shared interests and regional stability.”
Earlier in the day, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani also lauded the move as “an important step, especially since he [Savaya] is of Iraqi origin.”
“We wish him success in his mission,” Sudani said, according to a statement from his office.
Trump on Sunday announced the appointment of Michigan businessman Savaya as his Special Envoy to Iraq, describing him as someone with a “deep understanding of the Iraq-U.S. relationship.”
“I’m pleased to announce [that] 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,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Savaya, reportedly a Chaldean entrepreneur of Iraqi descent, is the founder of Leaf and Bud, a company specializing in the cultivation of marijuana for medical and recreational use. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has no previous experience in government at the local, state, or federal level.
Savaya is also a social media influencer who has appeared in several photos with Trump and is a supporter of his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
“Mark was a key player in my campaign in Michigan, where he, and others, helped secure a record vote with Muslim Americans. Congratulations, Mark!” Trump added.
In response, Savaya expressed gratitude for the appointment, writing on X, “I am deeply humbled, honored, and grateful to President Donald J. Trump for appointing me as Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq.”
“I am committed to strengthening the U.S.–Iraq partnership under President Trump’s leadership and guidance,” he said.
