Protesters in Baghdad denounce Trump remarks on Maliki candidacy

BAGHDAD — Dozens of demonstrators gathered near Baghdad’s Green Zone on Wednesday night to protest comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump rejecting Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination for prime minister.

The protesters condemned foreign interference in Iraq’s internal affairs and chanted slogans against the United States and President Trump, including “No, no to America” and “No, no to the devil.”

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

Al-Maliki on Tuesday rejected what he described as U.S. interference in Iraq’s internal affairs. “We categorically reject blatant American interference in Iraq’s internal affairs, and consider it a violation of its sovereignty and contrary to the democratic system in Iraq after 2003,” Maliki said in a statement. He added that it was also “an infringement on the decision of the Coordination Framework to choose its nominee for the post of prime minister.”

Al-Maliki served as prime minister from 2006 to 2014. He secured a second term in 2010 but stepped down in 2014 under intense domestic and international pressure after the collapse of army defenses and the fall of Mosul to the Islamic State group.