BREAKING NEWS: Trump Says the U.S. Will No Longer Help Iraq if al-Maliki Becomes Prime Minister
"It's what he didn't say that worries the channel - He didn't say, Iraq owes the U.S. a lot of money."
Trump Warns Iraq He’ll Withdraw U.S. Support if It Chooses al-Maliki as Prime Minister
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a sharp public warning to Iraq, saying that Washington would no longer provide help to the country if it selects Nouri al-Maliki as its next prime minister. (Reuters)
Trump’s statement, made on his social media platform Truth Social, came after Iraq’s largest Shiite political alliance — the Coordination Framework — nominated al-Maliki as their candidate following months of political deadlock. (Reuters)
In his post, Trump described al-Maliki’s previous time in office as a period when Iraq “descended into poverty and total chaos,” and said that if he returns to power, the United States would no longer help Iraq succeed. Trump added that without U.S. backing, Iraq would have “zero chance of success, prosperity or freedom.” (AP News)
Al-Maliki served as prime minister from 2006 to 2014, a period marked by intense sectarian conflict, criticism from U.S. officials, and the emergence of the Islamic State group. His leadership remains deeply controversial in Iraq and abroad. (Reuters)
The warning reflects broader concerns among U.S. policymakers about Iran’s influence in Iraqi politics, as al-Maliki has maintained close ties with Tehran-aligned factions. Trump and other U.S. officials have also threatened targeted sanctions against Iraqi politicians if Iran-backed armed groups are included in a future government. (TIME)
Iraq now faces a complex negotiation process to elect a president and form a government, with competing blocs trying to balance internal political alliances alongside external pressure from countries like the United States. (ft.com)
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