On 17 January 2020, the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Mr. Sam Brownback, visited the see of Ecumenical Patriarchate, after having paid a visit earlier to the Holy Trinity Monastery on the island of Halki, where used to function a Theological School. During the meeting, issues related to the mission of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, both locally and internationally, to the Greek diaspora and to the status of Christians in Turkey were discussed. The Ecumenical Patriarch also mentioned his scheduled visit to the USA in May and his intention to meet with US President Donald Trump.

The meeting was also attended by the US Consul General in Istanbul, Mrs. Daria Darnell, accompanied by associates of the ambassador and of the Consulate General, as well as by Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria, the Patriarchal Deacon Iakovos Krochak and Professor Konstantinos Delikonstantis, Director of the First Patriarchal Office.