Trump Congratulates Iraq PM on Election Win He Never Won at White House
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 14
Trump Congratulates Iraq PM on Election Win He Never Won at White House
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 14
Summary
At Monday’s Oval Office meeting, Donald Trump repeatedly praised Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Kadhim al-Zaidi for winning a “highly competitive” election, even though Zaidi was never on the ballot.
Zaidi, a businessman with no electoral background, became prime minister after Iraq’s winning Shiite bloc was blocked from installing former premier Nouri al-Maliki, forcing parties to seek a consensus candidate.
In January, Trump threatened to stop helping Iraq if Maliki moved forward, deepening a constitutional deadlock as Baghdad navigated the U.S. war with Iran.
Zaidi used his first White House visit to pitch Iraq as an investment destination and plans to meet oil companies in Texas later this week.