Baghdad: Iraq’s dominant Shiite political alliance has firmly reiterated its backing for former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki as the country’s next premier, dismissing recent warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump that Washington could withdraw support if Maliki returns to power.
The Coordination Framework a coalition of Shiite parties that holds a parliamentary majority issued a statement on Saturday underscoring that the choice of Iraq’s prime minister is a sovereign constitutional matter that should be decided without foreign interference. The bloc said it remained committed to forming a government capable of addressing Iraq’s pressing economic, security and social challenges.
President Trump had earlier taken a rare and direct stance on Iraq’s internal political process, using social media to declare that the United States would end its assistance to Iraq if Maliki were reinstated as prime minister. Trump characterized Maliki’s previous time in office when he led Iraq from 2006 to 2014 as a period that saw the country “descend into poverty and total chaos,” and warned that Iraq would have “zero chance of success” without U.S. help.
Al-Maliki, a seasoned political operator and leader of the Islamic Dawa Party, rejected Washington’s warnings as an affront to Iraqi sovereignty. In public remarks and on social media, he described external interference as a breach of Iraq’s democratic norms established after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, and insisted he would continue to pursue the leadership role supported by his bloc.
The renewed backing for Maliki adds fuel to a political tug-of-war that has unfolded in Iraq since the November 2025 parliamentary elections, in which Shiite parties secured a large share of seats and later formed the Coordination Framework to dominate coalition-building. Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s group, which won the largest single party tally, failed to form a government, opening space for Maliki’s nomination.
Domestically, the dispute has stirred public sentiment. Demonstrations have taken place near the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, with some protesters condemning perceived foreign interference and voicing support for Maliki’s return. Critics of Trump’s stance see the warning as unwanted meddling in Iraq’s internal affairs at a sensitive moment.
Analysts say the standoff reflects broader geopolitical pressures on Iraq, which has for decades balanced relations with major powers, including the United States and neighbouring Iran, which has strong influence within many Shiite political factions. Maliki’s leadership has previously been criticized for fostering closer ties with Tehran a point of contention for Washington.
As Iraq moves toward electing a president a crucial step before a prime minister can be formally appointed the Coordination Framework’s position signals a firm intent to assert domestic political will. How Washington responds to this defiance, and whether Iraq’s leaders can navigate the competing pressures of external influence and internal cohesion, will shape the country’s political course in the coming weeks.