US President warns against return of Nouri al-Maliki as Iraq’s premier

2026-01-27 - 20:22

Shafaq News– Washington US President Donald Trump said Iraq would be making a “very bad choice” if it reinstated former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, warning that Washington would end its support if al-Maliki returns to power. In a post published on Truth Social, Trump argued that during Al-Maliki’s previous tenure, the country “descended into poverty and total chaos.” Trump added that Al-Maliki’s return “should not be allowed to happen again,” claiming that his policies and ideology would lead the United States to withdraw its backing from Iraq. He warned that without US support, Iraq would have “zero chance of success, prosperity, or freedom.” The comments come as Iraqi political forces continue internal discussions over leadership arrangements ahead of the next phase of government formation, with Maliki’s name circulating among potential candidates linked to ongoing negotiations. Maliki served as Iraq’s prime minister from 2006 to 2014, a period marked by sectarian violence, political polarization, and the rise of the Islamic State group, which seized large parts of the country in 2014. No official Iraqi response had been issued at the time of publication, and US government institutions have not released any formal statement clarifying whether Trump’s remarks reflect current American policy toward Iraq. This is a breaking story...