Nouri al-Maliki, the Coordination Framework’s candidate for Prime Minister of Iraq, condemned what he described as “blatant American interference” in the country’s internal affairs on Wednesday. The statement came after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut all support to Iraq if al-Maliki were to lead the next government.
“We categorically reject the blatant American interference in Iraq’s internal affairs,” al-Maliki stated on the social media platform X. He added that the US position is “a violation” of Iraq’s “democratic system,” which was established following the 2003 US-led invasion.
The dispute follows remarks from President Trump on Tuesday, who said Iraq would make a “very bad choice” by selecting al-Maliki for the premiership. Trump warned that due to what he called al-Maliki’s “insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq.”
Al-Maliki’s candidacy is backed by the Coordination Framework, a powerful coalition of Shiite political groups that forms the main ruling bloc. In his post, al-Maliki asserted that the US interference “infringes upon the Coordination Framework’s decision to nominate” its candidate for the role.
He affirmed his commitment to his candidacy, stating he “will continue to work until the end, in a way that achieves the higher interests of the Iraqi people.”
Nouri al-Maliki previously served two terms as Iraq’s prime minister from 2006 to 2014. His relationship with the United States became strained during his second term over his administration’s strengthening ties with Iran and accusations of promoting a sectarian agenda. The 75-year-old veteran politician has since remained a central and influential figure in Iraqi politics.
