Maliki Defies Trump’s Veto: "I Will Not Back Down," Rejects U.S. "Dictates and Threats"

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has officially challenged President Donald Trump’s warnings, affirming his candidacy for the premiership. Maliki characterized Trump’s comments as a "flagrant interference" in Iraq’s internal affairs and a violation of its sovereignty. "Dialogue is the only political option, not the language of dictates and threats," Maliki posted on X, doubling down on the Coordination Framework's decision to nominate him.

This defiance follows a blunt statement by Trump on Truth Social, where he labeled Maliki’s potential return as a "very bad choice" that would lead to "poverty and utter chaos." Trump issued a clear ultimatum: the U.S. will completely halt aid to Iraq if Maliki is reinstalled, arguing that without Washington's support, Iraq has "no chance of success, prosperity, or freedom." This escalating war of words puts the Iraqi political process in direct confrontation with the Trump administration's "Maximum Pressure" foreign policy.