Trump threatens Iraq

January 29, 2026

TL;DR

US President Donald Trump threatened to withdraw aid from Iraq if former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki returns to power.
Trump cited poverty and chaos during Maliki's previous tenure and accused him of promoting "insane policies and ideologies."
Maliki has been nominated for prime minister by a Shiite bloc in the Iraqi parliament.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned Baghdad against adopting a pro-Iranian stance.
Washington has leverage over Iraq, partly due to oil export revenues held at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York.
Maliki's previous term was criticized for corruption, mishandling sectarian tensions, and weak security policies that left Iraq vulnerable to ISIS.
ISIS captured Mosul in 2014 after routing US-trained security forces, and was eventually defeated with help from Iran-aligned Shiite militias.
Maliki resigned as prime minister under pressure but retains political influence.

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