Iraq’s prime minister has accepted an invitation from President Trump to visit the White House, according to White House press secretary Sarah Sanders.
Trump extended the invitation to Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi in a phone call during the president’s surprise visit to see U.S. troops at Al Asad Air Base, located west of Baghdad, Sanders told reporters traveling with the president on his trip.
The president’s call with the prime minister came after an in-person meeting at the joint U.S.-Iraqi military base was canceled due to security and logistical reasons, Sanders said.
The Iraqi prime minister’s office, however, said in a statement a “disagreement over how to conduct the meeting led to the meeting being replaced by a telephone conversation,” according to a Reuters report.
Sanders later told reporters that the White House could only invite Abdul-Mahdi two hours earlier than the meeting’s initial time. The prime minister, however, was in another part of Iraq and therefore could not attend.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet with the Iraqi prime minister in Baghdad on Jan. 11, Sanders said.
In addition to speaking with Abdul-Mahdi during his visit to Iraq, the president also met with senior military leaders, during which they discussed efforts to combat the Islamic State.
“At the briefing with senior military leadership, the generals and President Trump came up with a powerful plan that will allow us to continue on a path to total victory. People will begin to see the results very soon,” Sanders told reporters.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump left the White House on Christmas Day for their secret trip to see U.S. troops in Iraq. The trip marked Trump’s first visit to a combat zone since becoming president.
Trump spent roughly three hours in Iraq before leaving for Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where he arrived early Thursday morning local time.
During the president’s stop in Germany, Trump met aboard Air Force One with Air Force leaders stationed there.
He and the first lady also greeted U.S. troops and posed for photos.
Happening Now – President @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS meet with Troops at Ramstein Air Base. pic.twitter.com/myDcyFIQde
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) December 27, 2018
