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US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One on January 27, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that "reinstalling" Nouri al-Maliki as the prime minister of Iraq is a "very bad choice" and warned that if he is elected the US will no longer help Iraq.
“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. 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!” Trump said a post on his Truth Social.
Iraq’s ruling Shiite Coordination Framework on Saturday announced former prime minister Maliki as its candidate for the premiership.
If he receives enough votes in the legislature, this would mark Maliki’s third term in office. He previously served as prime minister from 2006 to 2014, stepping down during his second term amid major security setbacks linked to the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) and persistent corruption allegations.
Maliki leads the State of Law coalition, which won 29 seats in Iraq’s November parliamentary elections. Earlier this month, Iraq’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition (RDC) announced that its leader and current Iraqi premier, Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, had withdrawn his candidacy for prime minister. Sudani’s bloc emerged as the largest winner in the elections with 46 seats.
Maliki’s nomination has widely been welcomed by Iraqi and Kurdish leaders.
“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. 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!” Trump said a post on his Truth Social.
Iraq’s ruling Shiite Coordination Framework on Saturday announced former prime minister Maliki as its candidate for the premiership.
If he receives enough votes in the legislature, this would mark Maliki’s third term in office. He previously served as prime minister from 2006 to 2014, stepping down during his second term amid major security setbacks linked to the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) and persistent corruption allegations.
Maliki leads the State of Law coalition, which won 29 seats in Iraq’s November parliamentary elections. Earlier this month, Iraq’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition (RDC) announced that its leader and current Iraqi premier, Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, had withdrawn his candidacy for prime minister. Sudani’s bloc emerged as the largest winner in the elections with 46 seats.
Maliki’s nomination has widely been welcomed by Iraqi and Kurdish leaders.
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