‘Very bad choice’: Trump threatens to cut Iraq aid if Maliki returns as PM

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States will “no longer help” Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki becomes its next prime minister.

“I’m hearing that the Great Country of Iraq might make a very bad choice by reinstalling Nouri al-Maliki as Prime Minister,” Trump said in a Truth Social post Tuesday. “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,” he continued. “If we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom. MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN!”

The Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite-led parties, on Saturday nominated Maliki as their candidate for prime minister, citing his “political and administrative experience and his role in managing the state” in a statement.

Maliki served as prime minister from 2006 to 2014, steering the government through the turbulence that followed the US-led invasion that toppled longtime Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein.