Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after casting his ballot at a polling station in Baghdad during parliamentary elections. (Nov. 11, 2025)
Trump threatens Iraq with ending support if Maliki returns to power
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- US President Trump threatened to withdraw all US aid and cooperation from Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki is reinstalled as Prime Minister, warning that his leadership would lead to "poverty and total chaos" and leave Iraq with "ZERO chance" of success.
- The threat comes as the Tehran-aligned Coordination Framework nominated the 75-year-old Maliki for the post, directly challenging Washington’s influence over Iraq.
US President Donald Trump vowed that his country will end its support to Iraq if former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki returns as the country’s premier, after he was nominated again to the post.
“I’m hearing that the Great Country of Iraq might make a very bad choice by reinstalling Nouri al-Maliki as Prime Minister. Last time Maliki was in power, the Country descended into poverty and total chaos,” Trump said on Truth social.
“That should not be allowed to happen again. Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq and, if we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom.”
“MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN!”
On Saturday, the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shiite parties close to Tehran and the largest bloc in parliament, announced Maliki’s nomination for the premiership.
The veteran politician, 75, previously served as prime minister for two terms between 2006 and 2014, a period marked by pivotal moments in the country’s recent history.
The United States wields significant influence in Iraq, particularly as revenues from the country’s oil exports are deposited at the US Federal Reserve in New York under an arrangement reached after the 2003 US-led invasion.
One of Washington’s key demands is that Iraq curb the influence of Iranian-backed Shiite armed factions.
Current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who took office in 2022, has earned US confidence due to his efforts to rein in these groups.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi parliament on Tuesday postponed a session to elect a president at the request of the two main Kurdish parties, which sought additional time to agree on a candidate, according to the official Iraqi News Agency.
Under Iraq’s power-sharing system, the prime minister is a Shiite, the speaker of parliament a Sunni, while the largely ceremonial presidency is held by a Kurd.
