FILES: Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, meets with Joshua Harris, the U.S. Embassy’s chargé d’affaires in Iraq.
Al-Maliki met with US chargé d’affaires, State of Law aide says
BAGHDAD – The head of the media office of the State of Law Coalition said Friday that coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki met with U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Joshua Harris, days after U.S. President Donald Trump posted his rejection of al-Maliki’s nomination for prime minister.
Hisham al-Rikabi said the meeting included discussions on ongoing talks among political forces to form the government and the Shiite Coordination Framework’s vision for the course of the next government.
In a social media post, al-Rikabi said, “The head of the State of Law Coalition, Mr. Nouri al-Maliki, received the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy to Iraq, Mr. Joshua Harris, and ways to enhance bilateral relations were discussed.”
He added, “Discussions also covered the ongoing dialogues among political forces toward forming the remaining presidencies and the Coordination Framework’s vision for the path of the upcoming government.”
Iraq held parliamentary elections on Nov. 11, 2025. Voters chose the 329 members of the Council of Representatives, the country’s legislature.
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 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.
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.”