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US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Baghdad on Tuesday, threatening to sever all American assistance to Iraq if the Shiite Coordination Framework moves forward with the reinstatement of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
In a post on his Truth Social platform late Tuesday evening, Trump claimed he was "hearing" that the "Great Country of Iraq might make a very bad choice" by returning Maliki to power. The president characterized Maliki’s previous tenure (2006–2014) as a period where the country "descended into poverty and total chaos," asserting that such a scenario "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," Trump wrote. He concluded with a stark ultimatum: "If we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom. MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN!"
The public broadside comes just days after Iraq's largest parliamentary bloc, the pro-Iran Shiite Coordination Framework, formally nominated the 75-year-old Maliki as its candidate for the premiership. The move followed the withdrawal of incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani from the race, ostensibly to clear a path for a unified Shiite candidate.
Trump’s comments signal a significant escalation in US pressure on Baghdad's government-formation process. Maliki’s second term ended in 2014 amid the collapse of the Iraqi army and the rise of the Daesh, a failure often attributed to the sectarian policies he pursued against the country's Sunni minority.
In Washington, Maliki is widely viewed as a polarizing figure with deep ties to Tehran. His potential return is seen by the Trump administration as a direct threat to US regional interests and efforts to dismantle Iran-backed militias. Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly warned Iraqi officials that any government "controlled by Iran" would struggle to maintain a partnership with the United States.
The Iraqi Parliament is scheduled to meet this week to elect a new president, who will then have 15 days to officially charge the Coordination Framework's nominee with forming a government. While Maliki’s nomination has the numerical backing of the largest bloc, it faces stiff resistance from Sunni and Kurdish factions, as well as internal rifts within the Shiite alliance itself.
The threat of a total withdrawal of US economic and security aid, which remains vital for Iraq’s stability and its continued fight against Daesh remnants could provide significant leverage to Maliki's domestic opponents as they seek a "consensus" alternative to the former premier.
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