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Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi meets President Trump in Washington
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Iraq’s new prime minister, Ali al‑Zaidi, to the White House for a bilateral meeting. Trump said the United States no longer needs a military presence in Iraq and announced that the remaining U.S. troops will be withdrawn by the end of September. Both leaders pledged to expand economic ties, emphasizing long‑term oil and gas partnerships. Trump highlighted “tremendous chemistry” with al‑Zaidi and said American oil companies are already forming partnerships with Iraq, while Iraq seeks a fair OPEC production share and new export pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The discussion also covered Iraq’s plan to disarm Iran‑backed militias and to place all weapons under state control, a step tied to the September troop pull‑out deadline. Iraq’s prime minister reiterated the country’s reconstruction needs after more than $400 billion in war‑related damage and asked for continued U.S. investment and security guarantees.