When President Donald Trump took to social media to demand that former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki withdraw his bid for a return to power, the message landed with explosive force. Within days, Maliki’s coalition Coordination Framework crumbled, withdrawing support under the weight of American pressure. What might have seemed like a passing tweet became a decisive intervention in Iraq’s fragile political landscape. Trump’s slapping tweed underscored how Washington’s hand still shapes outcomes in Baghdad.

Maliki’s legacy and Washington’s fear

Maliki’s candidacy was always controversial. His tenure from 2006 to 2014 was marked by sectarian policies that alienated Sunnis and Kurds. Analysts blame his governance for creating the conditions that allowed ISIS to rise.

Maliki’s candidacy was always controversial. His tenure from 2006 to 2014 was marked by sectarian policies that alienated Sunnis and Kurds. Analysts blame his governance for creating the conditions that allowed ISIS to rise.

“Maliki’s return would have cemented Iraq’s dependence on Iran and deepened sectarian divides,” said Rend Al‑Rahim, Iraq’s former ambassador to Washington. For US officials, his re-emergence was not just unwelcome—it was intolerable. The tweet crystallized that sentiment.

By warning of “diplomatic and economic consequences” should Maliki return, the president made clear that Washington would not bankroll a government led by a man it viewed as both........

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