Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani welcomed US President Donald Trump's decision to appoint Mark Savaya as Special Envoy to Iraq.
In a post on his Twitter account on Monday (October 20, 2025), he said, "I welcome President Donald J. Trump's decision to appoint Mr. Mark Savaya as Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq."
Nechirvan Barzani considered the decision an affirmation of "the strategic importance of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in promoting our shared interests and regional stability."
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani welcomed Trump's decision, describing the appointment of Savaya, who is of Iraqi origin, as an "important step," wishing him success in his mission.
Who is the US envoy to Iraq?
Trump has given another government position to a businessman and one of his staunchest supporters, this time to a figure outside his inner circle: Mark Savaya, a Chaldean Iraqi.
A prominent businessman in the medical marijuana trade, he will serve as the US President's special envoy to Iraq.
Savaya is a well-known businessman in Detroit, Michigan, and an active Instagrammer. He has been seen and photographed with Trump on several occasions.
Trump said of Mark Savaya, "Mark's deep understanding of the relationship between Iraq and the United States, and his connections in the region, will advance the interests of the American people."
According to his LinkedIn page, Savaya has no experience in government affairs at the local, state, or federal levels.
He is a Chaldean-Iraqi businessman who lives and works in Detroit, where he founded a chain of dispensaries specializing in medical marijuana under the name "Liv & Bud."
On Sunday, Savaya wrote on his Instagram page, expressing his gratitude to Trump for appointing him as Special Envoy to Iraq, affirming his commitment to "strengthening the partnership between America and Iraq under the leadership and guidance of President Trump."
Mark Savaya was born in Iraq in 1985 and left the country in the 1990s, moving with his family to the United States.
Nechirvan Barzani welcomes the appointment of Mark Savaya as Special Envoy to Iraq.
